The Song of Bernadette (1943)

1943, 20th Century Fox. Directed by Henry King. Jennifer Jones, William Eythe, Charles Bickford, Vincent Price, Lee J. Cobb.

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The Song of Bernadette (DVD)

The Song of Bernadette (VHS)

Franz Werfel, The Song of Bernadette (book)

By Steven D. Greydanus

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.

Comparatively unsentimental, the film can depict key characters from church officials to Bernadette’s parents behaving unsympathetically without losing sympathy for them, then seamlessly redeem them. There’s room for ambiguity: No effort is made to address or resolve the local vicar’s repeated (and seemingly reasonable) misgivings about the phrase "I am the Immaculate Conception"; and the first reported cure, of the vision-impaired stonecutter, seems less than scientifically convincing (though it’s followed by a more convincing one). And the film makes some effort to grapple with the meaning and significance of suffering.

This subtlety and nuance helps the film make its overtly supernatural and Marian premise moving even to non-Catholic and non-Christian audiences. The film is further elevated by Jennifer Jones’s radiant performance and the Oscar-winning cinematography and score.

DVD Note: The Song of Bernadette was recently released on DVD with a number of special features; religious analysis on the commentary track from the author of a revisionist life of Christ is at times edifying but needs critical discernment.