The Song of Bernadette (1943)

[ponderingtheuniverse]

The Song of Bernadette (1943) from Twilight Time

The Song of Bernadette (1943) from Eureka Entertainment

In 1858 France, Bernadette, an adolescent peasant girl, has a vision of "a beautiful lady" in the city dump. She never claims it to be anything other than this, but the townspeople all assume it to be the virgin Mary.

[ponderingtheuniverse]

Once again, I noticed a film without a thread on here so decided to make one.

I watched this for the first time during my Criterion Channel free trial last year. I only watched it because Vincent Price was in it, but I had no idea that I'd be watching it far beyond for him. I expected this to hit too heavy with religion but instead I was very moved and became very invested in it. It didn't feel its runtime at all. Jennifer Jones deserved her Oscar but I feel like all of the main cast deserved nominations, especially Gladys Cooper and Vincent Price who gave just as much if moving performances as Jones. I was a sobbing mess by the time the end credits started rolling. I wasn't expecting to but the film had the control of my tear ducts (along with the music that didn't help.) I believe this is a film everyone should watch at least once in their life.

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by ponderingtheuniverse

Once again, I noticed a film without a thread on here so decided to make one.

I watched this for the first time during my Criterion Channel free trial last year. I only watched it because Vincent Price was in it, but I had no idea that I'd be watching it far beyond for him. I expected this to hit too heavy with religion but instead I was very moved and became very invested in it. It didn't feel its runtime at all. Jennifer Jones deserved her Oscar but I feel like all of the main cast deserved nominations, especially Gladys Cooper and Vincent Price who gave just as much if moving performances as Jones. I was a sobbing mess by the time the end credits started rolling. I wasn't expecting to but the film had the control of my tear ducts (along with the music that didn't help.) I believe this is a film everyone should watch at least once in their life.

I created a thread here for this film last year, but since it pertained to a release in Spain, I tagged it as such and put it under International.

I really wish this film would get a full and proper remastering, and 4k release. I know the UHD part of that wish is probably asking too much, though, given that the prints they do have to work with are damaged as a result of the passage of time. It's hard to believe though, that they cannot find a better print to work with from somewhere. What gets me is that they wouldn't even try to find one, and that's a shame, because this is a very good movie, regardless of where a person stands on religion.

[ponderingtheuniverse]

Originally Posted by StarFuryG7

I created a thread here for this film last year, but since it pertained to a release in Spain, I tagged it as such and put it under International.

I really wish this film would get a full and proper remastering, and 4k release. I know the UHD part of that wish is probably asking too much, though, given that the prints they do have to work with are damaged as a result of the passage of time. It's hard to believe though, that they cannot find a better print to work with from somewhere. What gets me is that they wouldn't even try to find one, and that's a shame, because this is a very good movie, regardless of where a person stands on religion.

I agree. Getting into this hobby, I've noticed quite a few films that seem like they could use better remastering. I'll go ahead and admit its a number of Vincent Price films (like his Poe Cycle films for example.) Its not limited to his films though. I feel like I Married a Witch (1942) and The Uninvited (1944) from Criterion could do with better remasters too. Who knows when or if any of the films I mentioned will ever see the light of day in 4K, let alone re-issued blu-rays with better remasters. It certainly doesn't help that this is a Fox film that only had releases with boutique labels.

I haven't watched my Eureka copy yet (I plan to watch it next month since it will seem fitting) but the copy that I watched on the Criterion Channel wasn't bad. Apparently the Twilight Time copy looked horrible and the Eureka is only a few steps above it in looking better. Even if I had wanted the TT blu-ray, its OOP.

It really is a great film that cannot be recommended enough.