| The Song of Bernadette is a dramatization of Franz | | | | Bernadette. Jennifer Jones was definitely deserving of |
| Werfel's Popular book about Bernadette Soubirous, | | | | her 1943 Oscar for best actress in a leading role. |
| who had visions of the blessed Virgin Mary in Lourdes. | | | | A film about apparitions and religious faith is perhaps |
| Bernadette was a pious, honest and simple child. She | | | | difficult to do without slipping into sentimentality. But |
| was quite slow in learning and even by the age of 14 | | | | more or less the film manages this it is genuinely |
| she had not learned her Catechism (knowledge of | | | | moving but in a spiritual rather than sentimental sense. |
| Catholicism) Despite ill health she worked hard in | | | | Sceptics may feel the film is weighted towards a |
| helping out her impoverished parents. One day while | | | | certain angle, but the film deserves credit for an |
| collecting firewood Bernadette had a vision of a "most | | | | intriguing portrayal of how Bernadette's visions |
| beautiful lady" in the grotto of Massabielle just outside | | | | affected, her family, church and the local community. |
| of Lourdes. Her first vision lasted for nearly 15 mins | | | | The film is not without humor, nor is it ringing |
| and she describes the lady as being small but beautiful | | | | endorsement of Catholicism. Much of the initial |
| beyond belief. Initially she told her sister but asked her | | | | opposition came from staunch Catholics. The lady's |
| to keep it a secret. However her sister couldn't resist | | | | first words to Bernadette were quite prominent |
| telling her parents, who initially very skeptical about | | | | throughout the film. |
| Bernadette's claims and wanted her to stop going to | | | | "I cannot promise you happiness in this world, but I can |
| the grotto. The interest of the film is in how Bernadette, | | | | in the next." |
| the church and the town officials react to these most | | | | More than anything the film leaves you with a deep |
| arresting claims. | | | | deep reverence for Bernadette Soubirious who |
| Bernadette saw the Virgin Mary 18 times, although the | | | | succeeds in proving the validity of her claims through |
| film concentrates on only a couple of apparitions. Much | | | | her saint like life. |
| of the dramatic tension is generated through her | | | | The film does take certain liberties for dramatic effect. |
| aggressive questioning by the Imperial prosecutor and | | | | For example in the film her young male friend Antoine |
| chief of police. Bernadette disarms her critics with the | | | | Nicolau, appears to be deeply in lover with her. In one |
| most simple yet sharp responses. Never are they able | | | | scene he promises to remain unwed when she moves |
| to catch her off her guard. She maintains an | | | | to the convent. However, this emotional relationship |
| impressive dignity, charm and purity that appear even | | | | between the two, was exaggerated by the author |
| more illumining given the skepticism and open hostility | | | | Franz Werfel. Other characters like the imperial |
| to her claims. | | | | prosecutor had their anti religious feelings exaggerated; |
| Much of the film's appeal lies in the marvelous | | | | but more or less the film does portray the fundamental |
| performance of Jennifer Jones. She is both beautiful | | | | story of how one girl, Bernadette Soubirous dealt with |
| and also manages to encapsulate the innocence and | | | | visions of the Virgin Mary. |
| purity of a real Saint that Bernadette was. It is no easy | | | | The film is directed by Henry King and is also an |
| task to play a saint. It is said Jennifer Jones prepared | | | | accurate reflection of the conditions of Lourdes in the |
| for her role by studying very carefully the life of | | | | mid nineteenth century. |