Friday Film

The Song of Bernadette (1943)

The Song of Bernadette is a reverent recounting of the life of St. Bernadette of Lourdes. As a teen-aged peasant girl growing up in the tiny French village of Lourdes in the 19th century, Bernadette experiences a vision of the Virgin Mary in a nearby grotto. At least, she believes that she did. The religious and political “experts” of the region cannot accept the word of a silly little girl, and do their best to get her to renounce her claims. The film was a critical great success. The Song of Bernadette won four Oscars in the 1943 Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Jennifer Jones), Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Score.