Johnny Belinda

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Jeff S Jane Wyman in particular is fabulous in this insightful drama about the human condition. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/08/24 Full Review Leaburn O An enjoyable old classic. The film that shot Jane Wyman to fame and convinced her she was ready to leave her failing actor husband. Quite how she got an Oscar for a performance with literally zero noise made is beyond me. Whatever happened to her ex husband god only knows. The film had potential to be longer and potentially with a gripping court case. Instead it was wrapped up far too rapidly and ended disappointingly after a good first hour and a half. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/05/23 Full Review Mark A Beautiful and moving film. Jane Wyman was brilliant. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/16/22 Full Review william d If you read the synopsis you might think the film devolves into schmaltz, despite its serious themes. I assure you it does not. This is a quality drama, although the ending is a little too contrived.. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Some history about me (as if you cared): The elementary school I attended had one of the most comprehensive special education programs in the state (at least that’s what we were told) and as a result I spent a great deal of time around young people who were disabled, deaf, and a number of other things that would once have been called “special needs” (but I think that term is now considered offensive.) Anyways, it was a formative time in my life, and therefore I have a love for them and have even considered seeking an alternate career (or at least volunteering part-time) working with these exceptional people. Needless to say, when I realized Johnny Belinda was actually going to be a film about a doctor who was reaching out to a deaf/mute girl, I was instantly connected with the story in an emotional way. Seeing the development of her character was marvelous, and Jane Wyman did an amazing job with the role. I also loved that they didn’t have Charles Bickford play the typical heartless redneck, but he proved to be a loving father who actually celebrated his daughter’s advancement. It made sense that the rest of the community might be slower to accept her as anything more than a simpleton, since all of these ideas were new at the time, and only her family were able to work with the doctor to learn some sign language. The story of Johnny Belinda is a tough one to take, because this movie doesn’t shy away from some darker moments. While we don’t have to see the awful details, we get close enough to let our imaginations fill in the gaps. I had quite the emotional journey as I went from delighted with some of the story to appalled by other parts. I also had a tough time trying to unravel the doctor as a character. Lew Ayres plays him well, and I certainly liked him, but his role in the film was an enigma. The ending felt wrong for some reason, as if a studio mandated a certain ending that wasn’t congruous with the rest of the film up to that point. Aside from some minor issues like that, I was fully captivated by Johnny Belinda even when it was tough to watch. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/21/20 Full Review steve d Really melodramatic and the performances are just ok. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Johnny Belinda

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