Bright Victory

Released Jul 31, 1951

1h 37m

Drama

List

100%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

82%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

Unable to see after he's hurt on the battlefield, Sgt. Larry Nevins (Arthur Kennedy) lands in a military hospital with African-American soldier Joe Morgan (James Edwards) and attending nurse Judy Greene (Peggy Dow). Though he's engaged to a girl in America, Larry finds himself falling for Judy. Meanwhile, his casual racism damages his friendship with Joe. But, when he heads back to the U.S., Larry realizes how much he cares for Judy -- and how wrong he was to judge others by their race.

Read More

Read Less

Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Bright Victory tackles a difficult problem and makes it absorbing and moving.

Aug 6, 2019

Full Review

Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Arthur Kennedy anchors this surprisingly sensitive portrait of an American G.I. coming to terms with blindness, his own racism and a life of stability versus one based upon pure love.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 17, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Just as Bette Davis went blind in 1939's excellent -- and similarly titled -- Dark Victory, Arthur Kennedy suffers the same fate here."

Rated: 3/4

Sep 25, 2022

Full Review

Nell Dodson Russell

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Don't miss Bright Victory. The sequence between Kennedy and his father is a beautiful bit of film work.

Jan 14, 2022

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Arthur Kennedy received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for this powerful chronicle of a blind WWII vet trying to adjust to civilian life.

Rated: B+

Jun 10, 2012

Full Review

Read all reviews

steve d

Powerful story with some strong performances.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

ashley h

Bright Victory is an excellent film. It is about a blinded war veteran who is struggling to adjust to his affliction in peacetime. Arthur Kennedy and Peggy Dow give amazing performances. The screenplay is well written. Mark Robson did a great job directing this movie. Bright Victory is a must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Average cinematography combines with deft editing to allow a straightforward telling of an unusual tale of love amidst personal stress. This must have been a novel plot device even though it came a decade after the US joined WWII.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A good black and white film with romance

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

no 'best years..." but good

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Brilliantly acted, but no real emotional depth.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Mark Robson

Director

Arthur Kennedy

Larry Nevins

Peggy Dow

Judy Greene

Julie Adams

Chris Paterson

James Edwards

Joe Morgan

Will Geer

Mr. Lawrence Nevins

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

80%

%

Back Street

40%

50%

Portrait in Black

50%

80%

Madame X

10%

64%

Change of Habit

100%

77%

Death of a Salesman

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Unable to see after he's hurt on the battlefield, Sgt. Larry Nevins (Arthur Kennedy) lands in a military hospital with African-American soldier Joe Morgan (James Edwards) and attending nurse Judy Greene (Peggy Dow). Though he's engaged to a girl in America, Larry finds himself falling for Judy. Meanwhile, his casual racism damages his friendship with Joe. But, when he heads back to the U.S., Larry realizes how much he cares for Judy -- and how wrong he was to judge others by their race.

Director: Mark Robson
Screenwriter: Baynard Kendrick, Robert Buckner
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal/Universal Int
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 31, 1951, Original
Runtime: 1h 37m