THE SONG OF BERNADETTE

US, 1943, 156 minutes, Black and white.
Jennifer Jones, William Eythe, Charles Bickford, Vincent Price, Lee J. Cobb, Gladys Cooper, Anne Revere, Patricia Morison, Aubrey Mather, Charles Dingle, Sig Rumann.
Directed by Henry King.

The Song of Bernadette is considered a classic of the '40s. Produced during World War Two and with echoes of morale-boosting, the film is a sincere adaptation by writer-director George Seaton (Academy Award-winner for The Country Girl) of Franz Werfel's story of the events at Lourdes in the 1850s. Werfel, a Jewish writer (Me and the Colonel) was grateful for the help given by Catholics to himself as a Jew during the Nazi persecutions. He wrote this book in gratitude.

The film won some Oscars for its re-creation of the period and for its cinematography. Alfred Newman contributes an expected reverent Hollywood choirs score. The cast is excellent. Jennifer Jones was introduced in this film (although she had appeared in minor roles under her name Phyllis Isley). It was the beginning of a very successful career. Vincent Price, Anne Revere, Charles Bickford, Gladys Cooper lead a uniformly excellent supporting cast. While the film has echoes of the over-reverent presentation of things religious on the screen, the acting of the players and the basic simplicity of Bernadette shine through to make this an above average religious film from Hollywood.

1. The classic status of the film? Its impact during World War Two? Morale boosting? Quality as a religious film? Portrait of human beings? Social situation?

2. The merit of the film and its awards? Jennifer Jones and her star role? The quality of the character of Bernadette? Her religious experience? Innocence and sanctity? Her sustaining the role throughout a long film?

3. Technical merits of the film: sets, decor, black and white photography? Musical score - with the echoes of expected religious musical themes?

4. The film's comment on faith: that no explanation was possible for the non-believer; for the believer none was necessary. The background of Lourdes and the apparitions of Mary: French history, politics. anti-religion and Catholicism? Classes and poverty in French society? Franz Werfel and his Jewish background, war experience? His acknowledgement to Catholic Church and his debt of honour in writing the book? The reverent translation of his book to the screen?

5. How important is knowledge of the 19th century Catholic Church for the film? Information about doctrine, practice? Attitudes towards practice, ritual, beliefs, the place of Mary, apparitions, faith and credulity? The role of the clergy? Relationship between church and state? Religious orders and nuns? Severe asceticism? The film's communicating an atmosphere of the Catholic church? The expected Hollywood religious style - tableaux, close ups, lifted eyes and exalted faces, heavenly choirs?

6. How well did the film establish the Soubirous household? The mother and her strength and tenderness, support of her husband, her work in the village and its respect? The father and his searching for work? The how, the number of children, poverty, crowdedness? The children and school? Religious knowledge and ignorance? The parish priest and the holy cards? Gathering wood in the forest etc.?

7. The film's establishing of the village life, the atmosphere of southern France and the Pyrenees, the clergy and influence, the school and the influence of the nuns, the administration of the town: the mayor, the police, the Imperial Prosecutor? The social changes e.g. the railways? The influence of the newspapers and public opinion? The empire and the influence of the emperor and empress? The scepticism towards religion? The control of religion?

8. The introduction to Bernadette, a simple girl, at home, relationship with her Parents, her not knowing her doctrine, the holy card taken away from her, her asthma? Her playing with the girls? The simple presentation of the apparition? Her response to the lady? Walking through the water? Forbidding her sister to tell her mother? The effect on people knowing about seeing the lady? The attempts to stop her? Her sincerity, grief? Mother's hostility and change of heart? Aunt Bernard and her support? The message for the parish priest and his answer about the roses blooming? Her talking to the lady, digging in the mud, the stream? The opposition to her going, the crowd supporting her. the curious? The final vision and the name of the Immaculate Conception and her not understanding it?

9. The effect on Bernadette - the blend of the ordinary and extraordinary? The town and superstition, faith? The administration and their hostility? The helpless police? The attempts to interrogate and frighten Bernadette? Sister Marie Therese and her hostility? The digging of the spring, the cure of the man's sight. the sick baby? The impact of the healings on the crowd? The bottling of the water? A blend of superstition and eventual financial exploitation?

10. The interrogations of Bernadette over the years? Her consistency of her story? The collage of her growing up and the questionings? Her work as a servant? The parish priest suggesting that she go to the convent? The build-up to the farewells - and the St. Christopher medals? The irony of Sister Marie Therese being the Novice Mistress? The harsh entry to the convent.. the Superior and the impersonal tone? Her working hard? Sister Marie Therese's jealousy and hostility? The confrontation in the room and Sister Marie Therese’s bitterness? Her understanding of holiness and suffering? Her shock when the doctor revealed Bernadette’s illness and endurance? Her tending Bernadette in her illness? Bernadette's sending the holy card to the parish priest? The final questionings? Her death and her later acclaim as a saint? Her happiness in this world - though not expecting it?

11. The picture of the church authorities - the parish priest and his influence in the village, his authority, his not helping the official administration? His protecting Bernadette? His worry about the Immaculate Conception? The bishop and his leaving his decision to Providence? The sisters in the school, convent? Sister Marie Therese and her fierce attitudes towards life and holiness? Her asceticism? Jealousy? Her shock and final prayer in the chapel?

12. The sketch of the characters of the mayor and his council? Their not wanting to take responsibility? Their eventual exploitation of the situation? The Imperial Prosecutor and his anti-clericalism? Anti-religion? Severity? The encounter with the empress' lady-in-waiting? The transfer of the officials or their remaining in Lourdes to endure what they did not approve of? The prosecutor's later return to Lourdes, his illness, his falling on his knees?

13. The doctor and his work with the baby, the baby's cure - and the child being presented as he grew older throughout the film? The man with his sight restored? The empress and her child getting well? The strict administration of examining cures at Lourdes?

14. Antoine and the suggestion of Bernadette's growing up and marrying him? Her being an ordinary young woman looking forward to family? Her life in the convent?

15. The significance of an ignorant peasant girl for France of the 19th. century? As a sign of contradiction for French secularism and progress? Influence into the 20th. century? The ideas of the gospel of God's weakness being stronger than human strength?

16. How moving a religious film? Experience?