Song of Bernadette, The (1943)

The Song of Bernadette (1943), directed by Henry King.

In 1858, at Lourdes, France, a peasant girl experiences a series of visitations from a presence she calls "The Lady", but which everyone else understands to be the Virgin Mary. She develops a small following among the poor, but is opposed by both Church and State and is threatened with the insane asylum.

Then the miracles begin.

It's a lovely presentation of the story, matter of fact in tone and realistic in clothes and settings. A bit long at 2 1/2 hours; they could have cut some of the politics. And those miracles: all might have natural explanations.

Fine characterizations by the actors, particularly:

Famous Alfred Newman score.

Available on Blu-ray from Twilight Time. The image is sometimes quite good -- those stone and wood textures -- but the source quality is variable, with some print damage. The commentary track is edited together from three somewhat gushy film scholars: a theologian, a Jennifer Jones biographer, and an Alfred Newman fan.

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