The Song of Bernadette

Released Dec 25, 1943

2h 36m

Drama

List

88%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

80%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Based on the popular novel by Franz Werfel, this drama focuses on Bernadette Soubirous (Jennifer Jones), a young French woman who experiences vivid visions of the Virgin Mary. While many dismiss her claims, certain people, including the priest Dominique Peyramale (Charles Bickford), slowly begin to believe her. Eventually, Bernadette is deemed a saint, and becomes a nun at a convent, where she must deal with jealousy from others who resent her revered status.

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stevie68a

Jennifer Jones is perfect for this role, although it's a phony story. The title ought to be "The Lie of Bernadette". How in this day and age, can people believe in this nonsense? Where is this "virgin" today? Shouldn't she be performing miracles for children with terminal cancers? She can't, because she's imaginary. A well made production with good acting, but like watching "Cinderella". A fictional story.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/24

Full Review

William D

The famous French novelist Emile Zola once investigated Lourdes and literally saw a girl admitted to the baths with a horrible deformity that was alleged to have resulted from Lupus. He then watched her emerge, completely cured before his eyes. When asked for his opinion, he stated "If all the lepers in all of France were cured right before my eyes, I still would not believe." So you can see what we are up against. I saw this movie when I was a little boy, and it's poetry, dignity and austere beauty provided me with a seed of belief that has grown and never failed for my entire life. I owe a huge debt of gratitude. An amazing, life changing film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/07/23

Full Review

Leaburn O

Overlong biopic of the woman who saw apparitions at Lourdes. Interesting to hear the history but it really was a strain to get through in the end.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/05/23

Full Review

Tony

Beautiful cinematography and superb acting!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This classic film depicts the famous mystical events of Bernadette at Lourdes in France. Jennifer Jones plays the young Bernadette convincingly. For example, she innocently tells her inquisitors that the "Lady" informed her that she was "The Immaculate Conception" while not knowing what that means. The supporting cast is excellent as well. I also think that the film shot in black and white adds to the starkness of the events that took place there. The viewer is left with a personal decision to make. Either the events were true or a mass hallucination. As Franz Werfel is quoted as saying, "For those who believe no explanation is necessary, for those who do not believe none is possible.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

david l

A rare religious movie that really works, The Song of Bernadette is a powerful biographical tale fueled by amazing dialogue and immense emotional investment. The runtime was too bloated for this simple story, but the handling of it was quite sophisticated. The cinematography and art direction are mesmerizing while the performances from everybody involved were phenomenal. Consequently, it's one of the most underrated Best Picture nominees, a film that was nominated for no less than 12 Oscars and in spite of that is rarely talked about these days.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Henry King

Director

Jennifer Jones

Bernadette

Charles Bickford

Father Peyramale

Gladys Cooper

Sister Marie Therese Vauzous

William Eythe

Antoine Nicolau

Vincent Price

Prosecutor Vital Dutour

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James Agee

TIME Magazine

A remarkably good moving picture-an improvement on Franz Werfel's reverent novel about the French peasant girl who saw the Blessed Virgin and, with her help, discovered a miraculously healing spring at Lourdes.

Feb 27, 2018

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Based on the historical novel by Jewish author Franz Werfel, the beloved classic The Song of Bernadette stands head and shoulders over most religiously themed fare from Hollywood’s golden age.

Rated: A+

Jul 18, 2003

Full Review

Matthew Pejkovic

Matt's Movie Reviews

Speaks to the heavy cost of miracles in an increasingly secular world, and the quiet suffering of those chosen to spread God's word.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 17, 2021

Full Review

NZ Herald Staff

New Zealand Herald

A conscientious, dignified and moving film version of Franz Werfel's story.

Nov 19, 2020

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Newcomer Jones is convincing, the supporting players are strong, and the premise is thought-provoking.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 14, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Based on the popular novel by Franz Werfel, this drama focuses on Bernadette Soubirous (Jennifer Jones), a young French woman who experiences vivid visions of the Virgin Mary. While many dismiss her claims, certain people, including the priest Dominique Peyramale (Charles Bickford), slowly begin to believe her. Eventually, Bernadette is deemed a saint, and becomes a nun at a convent, where she must deal with jealousy from others who resent her revered status.

Director: Henry King
Screenwriter: George Seaton
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1943, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 2h 36m

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