Posted on 08/12/2019 6:26:46 AM PDT by Rummyfan
I recently quipped that 1943's The Song of Bernadette was "the best Catholic movie ever made by two Jews." Its admirers insist you don't have to be Catholic to appreciate this ("based on a true") story of Marian visions and miraculous healings, so maybe those unexpectedly ecumenical origins explain why.
But I'm not sure they're right. No one can watch this (or any movie) through another's eyes. The Song of Bernadette must surely be baffling and even annoying to most Jews, Protestants, and, frankly, not a few Catholics, no?
The film was produced by David O. Selznick from the surprise 1941 bestseller by Prague-born Jewish writer-turned-refugee Franz Werfel, who explained his inspiration:
In the last days of June 1940, in flight from our mortal enemies after the collapse of France, we reached the city of Lourdes. (...)
I became acquainted with the wondrous history of the girl Bernadette Soubirous and also with the wondrous facts concerning the healings of Lourdes. One day in my great distress I made a vow. I vowed that if I escaped from this desperate situation and reached the saving shores of America, I would put off all other tasks and sing, as best I could, the song of Bernadette.
(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...
An absolutely wonderful and Classic movie. When actors and actresses actually acted and filmmakers made films.
It's a good thing (relatively) that Bernadette was born a Catholic. Converts aren't allowed to be simple people.
BTW, David O. Selznick was one of those "rare" Hollywood Republicans. Others included Irving Thalberg, Louis B. Mayer, and Al Jolson (who basically killed himself entertaining the troops in Korea in 1950).
Interesting thread, thank you!
A voice I never get tired of hearing. Especially the later recordings, many of which he made when he only had one lung left.
Two nights ago I was listening to his version of "I'll Be Seeing You." It brought me to tears.
Jennifer Jones. An interesting life. Torrid affair with Selznick. Survived him. Jumped off a cliff and survived that too. Died in her 90’s, I think.
“BTW, David O. Selznick was one of those “rare” Hollywood Republicans. Others included Irving Thalberg, Louis B. Mayer, and Al Jolson...”
Let’s not forget Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Ronald Reagan...
Kathy Shaidle hit this one out of the park... with a story as old as Cassandra (Greek woman ...cursed to utter prophecies that were true but that no one believed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassandra) and as new as today's latest martyred truth teller. Great post CharlesOConnell... It's not a mystery - it's God working small miracles...
You forgot John Wayne, and in his later years, Charleston Heston.
I had a hard time buying Oklahoma-born 24-year-old Jennifer Jones’s portrayal of a French 14-year-old. I think she was miscast.
Same with American 21-year-old cover girl model Millie Perkins playing Dutch Jewish teen Anne Frank. TOTALLY miscast.
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