The Song of Bernadette Blu-ray

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Henry King
USA 1943

One of the rare Hollywood studio films to address spiritual belief and religious conviction in a serious and complex fashion, the beloved classic The Song of Bernadette made a star of its leading lady Jennifer Jones, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress, in addition to taking home a Golden Globe during those awards’ very first ceremony (the film also won Globes for Best Dramatic Film and Best Director). A moving portrait of faith, the film is one of the crowning achievements of director Henry King (Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing).

Based on the best-selling historical novel by Franz Werfel, the film chronicles the life of 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous, who began seeing visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lourdes, France in 1858. When news of Bernadette’s vision first spreads through the town, there are those who decry her as mentally unsound, while others wholeheartedly believe – particularly when the spring that erupts near the grotto that housed the visitations contains water that seems to have miraculous healing properties.

Buoyed by outstanding supporting performances by Vincent Price, Lee J. Cobb, Charles Bickford, and Gladys Cooper, The Song of Bernadette – with sumptuous cinematography by Arthur C. Miller (How Green Was My Valley) – is a profoundly affecting drama, no matter what one’s own personal beliefs.

***

There is a kind of sentiment expressed in the conclusion of Henry King's "The Song of Bernadette" that human suffering is a somehow co-related to spiritual enlightenment. This is not particularly a unheard of revelation, but it did seem slightly "out of the blue" for the wonderful pace and themes of the film. Other than that I judge this to be quite a masterpiece. Character development was quite minimized and you wonder where the 156 minutes went to its flies by so hurriedly. I was quite moved by Jennifer Jones performance and it is probably what she is best remembered for. I was reminded of other strongly spiritual films like "Ordet" (Dryer) and "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" (Pasolini).

Posters

Theatrical Release: December 25th, 1943 - Los Angeles

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Eureka - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers

Distribution	20th Century Fox Region 1 - NTSC	Twilight Time Region FREE - Blu-ray	Eureka Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime	2:37:40	2:37:53.005	2:37:59.219 / 2:44:51.631
Video	1.33:1.00 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.48 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	Disc Size: 46,117,498,413 bytes Feature Size: 45,404,123,136 bytes Average Bitrate: 32.95 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video	1.33:1 aspect ratio Disc Size: 49,503,599,447 bytes Feature Size: 47,777,482,752 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.99 / 34.16 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate Twilight Time: Blu-ray
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1065 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1065 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: DTS Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / 24-bit Isolated Score: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1906 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1906 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)	LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit Commentary LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
Subtitles	English, Spanish, None	English (SDH), None	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Fox Home Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by Edward Z. Epstein (author of Portrait of Jennifer: A Biography of Jennifer Jones), John Burlingame (biographer of Alfred Newman), and biographer-historian Donald Spoto • Unrestored theatrical trailer (1:28) and 7 other Fox Titles • "Jennifer Jones: Portrait of a Lady" from A&E's Biography (44:24) • Movietone newsreel (American GIs award Jennifer Jones) (:57) • Restoration comparison (3:34) DVD Release Date: June 3, 2003 Keep Case Chapters: 20	Release Information: Studio: Twilight Time 1.33:1 aspect ratio Disc Size: 46,117,498,413 bytes Feature Size: 45,404,123,136 bytes Average Bitrate: 32.95 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Commentary by Jon Burlingame, Edward Z. Epstein and Donald Spoto • Restoration Comparison (3:32) • Play film with Overture (6:55) • Isolated Score track • Original Theatrical Trailer (1:53) Liner Notes by Julie Kirgo Limited to 3,000 copies! Blu-ray Release Date: March 2013 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Eureka 1.33:1 aspect ratio Disc Size: 49,503,599,447 bytes Feature Size: 47,777,482,752 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.99 / 34.16 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Watch film with Overture [6.52] • Audio Commentary by Edward Z. Epstein ( author of *Portrait of Jennifer: A Biography of Jennifer Jones), John Burlingame (biographer of Alfred Newman), and biographer-historian Donald Spoto • Original Theatrical Trailer (1:54) • Limited Edition collector's booklet featuring new writing by film journalist and writer Amy Simmons, alongside rare archival imagery [2000 copies only] Blu-ray* Release Date: April 15th, 2019 Custom Blu-ray Case (see image below) Chapters 16 / 17

Package - Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Eureka Classics Blu-ray - April 19': While technically these HD transfers are very similar (dual-layered with high bitrates) the two 1080P images look very different. The Eureka has a duller but thicker look, less prominent chiaroscuro contrast with black levels appearing not as deep. It can look less crisp beside the Twilight Time but it does look more film-like. The Twilight Time continues to look 'thin' to me with some possible brightness boosting but, as we always say, it is good to have a choice and this Eureka certainly does that looking very pleasing on my system and flawless in-motion. The Eureka also shows more information in the frame.

NOTE: The Eureka offers the option to see the presentation with the 7-minute 'Overture' start then seamlessly-branched to show the exact same feature transfer as without the 'Overture'.

Eureka go liner PCM 2.0 channel mono with the audio transfer (16-bit). I would give a slight edge to the Twilight Time in a slightly richer sound. The Eureka still sounds clean, consistent and flat with the depth prevalent in the noble score by Alfred Newman (The Diary of Anne Frank, Bus Stop, Blood and Sand, A Letter to Three Wives, Panic in the Streets etc.) exporting a majestic musical expression. The Eureka also has optional English (SDH) subtitles in a smaller font than the Twilight Time. The UK Blu-ray disc is Region 'B'-locked.

Eureka offer the same commentary by Edward Z. Epstein ( author of Portrait of Jennifer: A Biography of Jennifer Jones), John Burlingame (biographer of Alfred Newman), and biographer-historian Donald Spoto - as found on the Twilight Time. There is an original theatrical trailer, the aforementioned ability to watch the film with the 7-minute 'Overture' and the package comes with a limited edition (2000 copies) collector's booklet featuring new writing by film journalist and writer Amy Simmons, alongside rare archival imagery.

The Twilight Time Blu-ray is now out-of-print. The Eureka offers a different, heavier, image-quality and the bonus of the 'Overture', the included commentary and booklet. I still love this film... a must-see in my opinion.

***

ADDITION: Twilight Time Blu-ray - June 14': The Twilight Time is a dual-layered transfer with a very high bitrate for the 2.5 hour film. There is more information in the frame as compared to the 2003 DVD - on all 4 edges but notably at the top and bottom (NOTE: the DVD does look a shade vertically stretched - thinner faces). I was impressed by the SD, but this 1080P advances with more layered contrast and the high resolution brings out the film's textures but it can look a shade thin - as if there is some brightness boosting. The source still has some light scratches and marks, but they are not intrusive, IMO.

Included is an authentic DTS-HD Master mono track at 1065 kbps. There are optional English subtitles on the region FREE Blu-ray disc, playable world-wide.

Extras mimic some of the Fox SD, including the informative commentary, restoration comparison and trailer but Twilight Time add the option to play the film starting with the 7-minute Overture, the aforementioned isolated score and the package, limited to 3,000 copies, has some liner notes by Julie Kirgo.

This is a great, inspirational, classic with beautiful music and a fascinating story. The BD is worthy of an upgrade. Recommended!

ON THE DVD: This is a very strong offering from 20th Century Fox. A restored image that still shows some damage, as well as similar flaws in the soundtrack, but overall a very acceptable disc. Great contrast, occasional film grain, sharp. Commentary and host of other Extras. A worthy representation of a fabulous film.

Gary W. Tooze

Menus

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT