MovieChat Forums > The Song of Bernadette Discussion > I saw this movie for the first time last...

I saw this movie for the first time last evening possible spoilers

posted 7 years ago by autumnsquirrel66
5 replies | jump to latest

I was enamored by it; fixated. It was a nice surprise to see Vincent Price in it as well. But, I digress. I have a question that maybe someone could help me with. Why was Bernadette sent to be with the nuns? Why couldn't she be he housemaid/aide that she was set to be? She would have gotten to live her life as young girls do, going to the dance, finding a nice fellow, etc. And speaking of nice fellows....Was the one she gave the flower to giving up on her, or was he basically saying he would stay single, knowing he couldn't have her? Pardon my ignorance, as this was my first viewing of it. I intend to watch it again and again as I have ordered the DVD. Thank you for all your input:)

[–] hobnob53 7 years ago

She was sent to live with the nuns in order to prepare for a life as one, since she was by then considered blessed by God.

The business with William Eythe (the actor who played her sort-of boyfriend) is to the best of my knowledge movie fiction; no such person or relationship existed as far as I know. In the film he was indeed saying good-bye to her, knowing she would never leave the convent.

Bernadette was a simple, under-educated girl who seems to have had no interest in boys, dancing and the rest, and in any event once the Church accepted her visions it would not have allowed any such life for her. (Much as what happened to the future Sister Lucia, the only one of the three children who claimed to have seen "the Lady" at Fátima in 1917 who survived into adulthood, and who remained a nun until her death in 2005.)

The film is excellent and enjoyable but it is a movie; much of it is fictionalized or falsified for dramatic purposes. The film gives the impression that Bernadette died young (it's unspecified, but it seems to imply she was only around 20 or so), while in fact she lived to 35. Enjoy it as a terrific motion picture, but like all movies don't take it as the literal truth (this apart from whether you accept that the visions and miracles associated with Bernadette and Lourdes are real or not).

[–] autumnsquirrel66 7 years ago

Thank you so very much:) It is easy to get so into such a dynamic film that I do forget that there is drama for effect:) It was done beautifully, I must say.

[–] hobnob53 7 years ago

You're most welcome.

It's difficult, because the nature of this film tends to polarize discussion about it. Many people on this board who believe what Bernadette saw and accept the miracles associated with Lourdes tend to view this film uncritically, although they do understand that many of the events depicted (excluding the visions and cures) are not necessarily historically accurate. Others don't accept that Bernadette saw a vision or in any alleged miracles. Like any film on a controversial subject, too many people judge this picture based more on their own personal religious beliefs instead of as a movie, or as entertainment, which of course first and foremost is what it is. (One poster, who has started nearly a third of all the posts on this board, habitually uses this site to post topics reflecting his own religious views, only a small number of which concern the movie itself.)

Speaking solely for myself, I am skeptical about Bernadette and Lourdes; I neither believe nor disbelieve in her claims, or the claims of miraculous cures. I like to believe I have an open mind but in any case I try to separate evaluating the film from opinions concerning the actual events. On that basis, I find this a fabulous film, one that's perfect in almost all respects, and one that doesn't overwhelm people with the religious aspect but rather makes it a natural part of the narrative, as it should be. I just find it a shame that many people use it to promote their own personal beliefs and agendas, whatever those may be. But given the topic I suppose that's unavoidable.

[–] m-slovak79 7 years ago

I saw this movie for the first time last evening I was enamored by it; fixated.

I have seen it twice so far (Feb 15th 2016/Dec 20th 2016) and it held up for me on a re-watch.

7/10 ; which makes it within my Top 202 movies simply because there is only 202 movies i scored a 7 or higher out of the 2,000+ total movies i have seen. i still like movies i score a 6 or higher but it's my 7's and higher that stand out from the pack. basically... movies i score a 5 or lower get a Thumbs Down (i.e. won't re-watch(with rare exceptions)) and movies i score a 6 or higher get a Thumbs Up(i.e. will re-watch from time to time).

normally i generally don't like movies prior to the 1960's simply because they are just too different/outdated vs more modern standards of movies as the vast majority of my favorite movies (which is movies i score a 7 or higher) are from the 1990's to date. but putting aside The Song of Bernadette... the oldest movie i scored a 7 or higher would be... The Hustler (1961), which i gave a 8.5-9/10 (which makes that within my Top 31 movies).

i am a Catholic, so i believe this stuff. but to my knowledge, even Church approved stuff like this we are not required by the Catholic Church to believe but they can be a way to assist our faith in God etc, which generally makes them beneficial for people. but obviously i am sure some stuff is altered in the movie vs the real life events for bigger effect etc. but out of all of the religious themed movies i have seen this one is my favorite.

but since it's a bit over a hour and a half into Dec 24th at the time i type this(in USA (eastern time zone)), ill say... have a Merry Christmas everyone ;)

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My Top 100-ish Movies of All-Time! = http://goo.gl/EYFYdz
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[–] libby2130 7 years ago

that scene where she digs the weeds and eats them and the spring water starts flowing...it did happen...but....the water didn't flow until the next day.

in the movie that young man was in love with bernadette, she seemed to care about him too, so since she went to become a nun he decided to take care of his mom and not take a wife...but they were just friends in real life

I saw this movie for the first time last evening *possible spoilers*

I saw this movie for the first time last evening possible spoilers