The movie was based on the popuar 1941 novel of the same name by Franz Werfel which had spent over a year on The New York Times Best Seller list.
The movie was a box office hit and was warmly received by the critics. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards, with Jennifer Jones winning a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Bernadette.
Plot
The action of the film takes place in 1858 near Lourdes in France , where Bernadette, an adolescent peasant girl, played by Jennifer Jones, has a vision of "a beautiful lady" in a cave near the river. Although only Bernadette can see the vision, many local townspeople believe her and assume that it is the virgin Mary.Some political and religious officials, try to set up Bernadette as a fraud for concocting such a story but she is believed by the priest Dominique Peyramale, played by Charles Bickford.
Eventually, Bernadette is declared a saint, and becomes a nun at a convent, where she must deal with jealousy from others who resent her revered status.
Production
Linda Darnell had a reputation as a party girl, and was a controversial choice to portray the Virgin Mary, particularly after the highly religious Loretta Young was passed over for the role.To make matters worse, Darnell was pregnant. Nothing would change Darryl F. Zanuck's mind, and Werfel, who opposed the idea, was told that an unknown actress had been chosen.
Main Cast
Jennifer Jones ... Bernadette SoubirousCharles Bickford ... Abbé Dominique Peyramale
William Eythe ... Antoine Nicoleau
Gladys Cooper ... Marie Therese Vauzou, Bernadette's schoolteacher and later the Mistress of Novices
Vincent Price ... Vital Dutour, Imperial Prosecutor
Lee J. Cobb ... Dr. Dozous
Anne Revere ... Louise Casterot Soubirous, Bernadette's mother
Roman Bohnen ... François Soubirous, Bernadette's father
Mary Anderson ... Jeanne Abadie, Bernadette's friend
Patricia Morison ... Empress Eugenie
Jerome Cowan ... Emperor Napoleon III
Aubrey Mather ... Mayor Lacade
Charles Dingle ... Jacomet, chief of police
Edith Barrett ... Croisine Bouhouhorts
Sig Ruman ... Louis Bouriette
Blanche Yurka ... Bernarde C ... terot, Bernadette's aunt
Ermadean Walters ... Marie Soubirous, Bernadette's sister
Marcel Dalio ... Callet
Pedro de Cordoba ... Dr. LeCramps
Eula Morgan ... Madame Nicoleau
Fortunio Bonanova ... Imperial Prince Louis (uncredited)
Harry Cording ... Stonemason (uncredited)v Linda Darnell ... the Immaculate Conception (uncredited)
Alan Napier ... Dr. Debeau, the psychiatrist (uncredited)
Frank Reicher ... Dr. St. Cyr (uncredited)
Edward Van Sloan ... Doctor (uncredited)
Credits
Director … Henry KingProducer … William Perlberg
Based on ... 1941 novel of the same name by Frans Werfel
Screenwriter … George Seaton
Cinematography ...Arthur C Miller
Music ... Alfred Newman
Production Company … Twentieth Century Fox
Release Date … Dec 25, 1943,
Runtime … 2h 36m
Academy Awards
One Win:Best Actress ... Jennifer Jones
Nine Unsuccessful Nominations:
Best Picture ... Henry King
Best Director ... 20th Century Fox
Best Supporting Actor... Charles Bickford
Best Supportin Actress ... Gladys Cooper
Best Writing, Screenplay ... George Seaton
Best Cinematography, Black-and-White ... Arthur C Miller
Edmund H. Hansen ... Edmund H Hansen
Best Film Editing ... Barbara McLean
Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture ...Alfred Newman