The Song of Bernadette (feat. Samantha Ellis)


In the season finale, Kevin welcomes Ticklish Business co-host Samantha Ellis to talk about Henry King’s religious drama ‘The Song of Bernadette,’ the likely runner-up in the 1943 Oscar race that lost to ‘Casablanca.’

0:00 – 1:17 – Introduction

1:18 – 41:50 – ‘The Song of Bernadette’ review

41:51 – 1:50:45 – Why ‘The Song of Bernadette’ lost Best Picture

1:50:46 – 1:58:09 – Shoulda been a contender

1:58:10 – 2:01:50 – Did ‘The Song of Bernadette’ deserve to win?

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Theme/End Music is “The Virtue” by Jonathan Adamich


One Reply to “The Song of Bernadette (feat. Samantha Ellis)”

  1. Michael Cameron

    Dear Mr. Jaacobsen

    Thank you for reviewing this movie! Have watched it many times over the years and have always enjoyed its simple message of faith.

    One observation about Gladys Cooper’s performance: there is one astonishing moment of virtuoso acting that she pulls off late in the film. This is when she confesses to Bernadette that she has been jealous of her for years and felt ignored by God even though she’d given her life over to Him. She turns into this talking skull; she somehow is able to contort her lips to express the spiritual agony. She tell Jennifer Jones to look at her eyes. When she does that, she tacitly commands the audience to do the same thing. And then, she lists her grievances and and doesn’t blink even one time for almost a full minute. An incredible moment and an example of ‘less is more.’

    And she opened her eyes even wider in utter horror when Bernadette revealed the tumor on her leg to her. All of the detached iciness of her character completely disappeared instantly.

    IMHO, that single scene got her the nomination.

    Thank you again for your research. I enjoy your podcast very much.

    Please stay safe,

    Michael Cameron

    In my opinion, that one

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