One of the best films of all time and maybe Henry King's best - the real story of Saint Bernadette. Henry King tells the story as should be told - no more no less. We should remember France was under the Nazi yoke at the time - making such a film was a real message of hope and faith for the suffering French. This is great art beyond any doubt.

I was once reading a book about the Oscars, and the author, whose research required him to watch Oscar-winning and -nominated films throughout the years, said he had put off "The Song of Bernadette" because he was turned off by the religious subject matter and assumed it would be a heavy-handed, sanctimonious film for believers. Then he finally saw it and was surprised by how intelligent and reasoned it was. Based on this, I was curious to see it myself, because I usually feel the same way about religious-themed films, especially biopics that are prone to hagiography even when they're not about religious figures. I too found it to be a pretty articulate depiction of a humble woman's witnessing of miracles and subsequent rise to sainthood, even if it does not leave any room for those who don't believe in the Christian God. It acknowledges the existence of nonbelievers but pretty much says we can't be helped.I didn't expect even as much complexity from a film made in 1943 as "The Song of Bernadette" provides, so I was happy that it addresses various viewpoints, from the skeptics who are willing to be convinced given enough empirical evidence, to those who refuse to believe out of a sense of jealousy that they weren't the chosen one, to those who want to cash in and profit from the devoutness of others. One thing the movie nails is the reluctance of the religious community to accept supernatural occurrences when they occur in the real world despite its insistence on believing in them when they occur in the Bible. If a film like this is ever remade, I hope it leaves more room for people like me, people who don't necessarily rule out the possibility of miracles, however you want to define them, and believe that there is much about the natural world we can't and will never be able to explain, but don't believe that any of it is the work of a sentient deity. As with most things, our culture demands that people pick a side and refuses to acknowledge shades of gray, so in that way this film was a bit much to take by the time it ended, which is a LONG 156 minutes from the time it started.Jennifer Jones received the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance, and she's fine, but it's the supporting players around her that are far more interesting, including Oscar-nominated Charles Bickford as the village dean, and Gladys Cooper as a bitter nun who has a marvelous scene late in the film during which she faces a crisis of faith. Cooper shared the Best Supporting Actress field with Anne Revere, who plays Bernadette's mother. The film also won Oscars for its black and white art direction and cinematography, and Alfred Newman's lovely score. It won the most Oscars of its year, though it lost the big prize to "Casablanca." Also nominated in the categories of Best Picture, Best Director (Henry King), Best Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound Recording.Grade: B

Watched this movie when I was 9 years old. The hook of this narrative for me personally was the classroom scene as Bernadette (Jennifer Jones) was being Hammered by her Teacher Sister Marie Therese played to perfection by Gladys Cooper. The Socratic method was the norm in Catholic School teachings and Bernadette was put on the spot to answer a question pertaining to the holy trinity and the poor girl was unprepared to answer. Fact is that Bernadette Soubirous was not a particularly good student coupled with her malady, Asthma. Enter Father Peyramale the Dean of the school played by rugged actor Charles Bickford who is associated with more violent physical roles. It's a strange anomaly for that famous character actor to play a man of peace. The Dean enters the classroom and has a gift for each of the recipients of their communion. Each student received a card from the holy Father but Sister Marie grabs Bernadette's card away from her as she tell the stunned Dean that Benadette is not worthy of this and it would be unfair for her to receive it in front of the other students who work hard in her class. I felt as though I was looking in a mirror of my own precarious circumstances. For I was attending a parochial school and not doing very well. Like Bernadette, I was struggling and constantly being badgered by my teachers. I also suffer from asthma and wondered where this story was headed. Maybe my fortunes would change. Of course you know the rest of the story as Bernadette in searching for fire wood stumbled across the Holy vision in the grotto next to a garbage dump. Jennifer Jones portrayal was so credible as she is so genuine,reserve in her answers against heavy criticism by the local officials. In addition to her plausibility as the simple teen with her openhearted way she carried her self without boasting or being overly pretentious about her heavenly vision. The main antagonist in this movie who hammers our simple teenager Bernadette to no end and tries to contradict her claims of the vision is the colorful prosecutor Vincent Price. This story is about belief, blind faith and being chosen despite deficiencies in a person. Throughout this movie Bernadette never complains and never expects anything for her own personal gain.Honorable mention for actress Anne Revere who plays Bernadette's Mother. I do want to visit the town of Lourdes someday and sample some spring water. Hey you never know?

The Song of Bernadette is not like movies today. It does not have any laser fights, or explosions. This movie simply shows the conflict between the faithful and the doubters. It isn't the most exciting movie in the world, yet it will keep you awake with the constantly changing believes of the people of Lourdes. Faithful or not this movie is truly inspirational. Although in the end where it gets confusing and sees like Bernadette dies 3 times, it shows how people change throughout the movie such as the mayor and the doctor. There will be the characters you like such as Father, and the ones you don't like, characters such as the doctor. In the end, Christian or not, this movie will leave you changed by the time it is over