Johnny Belinda

Starring: Jane Wyman, Lew Ayres, Charles Bickford, Agnes Moorhead, Stephen McNally, Jan Sterling, Rosalind Ivan, Dan Seymour, Mabel Paige
Directed by: Jean Negulesco
Rating: Unrated
Genre: Drama
1948

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A doctor (Lew Ayres) begins teaching a deaf-mute woman (Jane Wyman) but the townspeople begin gossiping about them.

Review:

Tim: Johnny Belinda is a thoroughly engrossing movie, one that tackled mature and controversial subject matter and confronted topics not often depicted in Hollywood movies. It's exceptionally well made and as entertaining as it is thought provoking. I don't quite think it reaches greatness, though. It was nominated for an astonishing 12 Academy Awards, but it won only 1. This is a really good film, but it doesn't have enough to reach the upper echelon of films.

The story is a powerful one, inspired by a true story. It has a number of twists and turns and elicits a wide range of emotions from the audience. The film starts out with a sweet story about a kind doctor who moves to a small town. There, he befriends a farming family, especially their deaf-mute daughter. She can't communicate and is isolated from the world. He takes it upon himself to teach her sign language, as he recognizes her untapped intelligence. I loved these scenes. This part of the film highlights the best of humanity- recognizing the potential in another human being and working to make it reality. It's a powerful story about the outcasts in the world- how society will almost always marginalize those who are different, discount them, exclude them. It's a powerful reminder for us all to look for the potential in people. These scenes were truly heartwarming and so entertaining to see this woman blossom when she's given the tools to succeed. Those scenes were my favorite of the film.

The movie also depicts the dark side of humanity, shown here in the form of a townsman who SPOILER ALERT, but it's the main thrust of the movie) rapes our deaf-mute heroine. This was controversial and shocking at the time- it's believed this is the first Hollywood film to be permitted to depict rape as a part of the story. This must have been uncomfortable for audiences in 1948- it's hard to watch this scene today. It feels like a part of human history, though- the tendency for the strong to prey on the weaker. The movie absolutely takes a dark turn here and I lamented it. I wanted to go back to the kind, hopeful scenes earlier in the film. Director Jean Negulesco directs this brilliantly, as it shows the two sides of humanity and the bad times make you desperate to return to the good ones. I loved that this film pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable to show on screen. While difficult, it pushed motion pictures even further towards more accurately reflecting the reality of the world.

The end of the film does become a bit melodramatic. (SPOILER)- There's a murder, a trial, and a lot of other things that ramp up the drama, but feel like a lot. I didn't dislike the third act, but it started to feel more like a Hollywood production as it moves away from believability. It's still good, but it definitely doesn't help the movie's cause.

Now, I really liked the cast. We should start with Jane Wyman, as she won the film's sole Academy Award, for Best Actress. Wyman is really good in the main role. She plays this deaf-mute quite well, believably selling her impairments while infusing the character with love and warmth. Her transformation throughout the film is impressive, from wide-eyed innocence to a woman who becomes learned and learns about the darkness in the world. It's impressive that Wyman conveys so much without being able to utter a word. I wouldn't say I completely loved Wyman's performance to the extent that she would win an Oscar- I think it's a good performance that helps the movie. I think the novelty of the role and what she experiences on camera helped push her to this award. She's really good, plus her character is raped in the film, and I think the Academy was swayed by that.

I really enjoyed Lew Ayres as well. I marveled at the warmth and intelligence he poured into his character. Dr. Richardson is a remarkable character and I had a fantastic time watching him navigate the politics of this small town, bravely take a stand to assist a girl, and then deal with the unfortunate gossip and ire of the community. His character isn't the most complex, but it's a powerful performance, bringing this character to life. I was glad Ayres was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. I liked Laurence Olivier in Hamlet and understand why he won- it's a flashy role. While Ayres is more subtle in his performance here, it wouldn't have upset me had he won instead. I really did love Ayres here. Charles Bickford was outstanding as the farmer. Bickford does something amazing with his performance- he starts out by seeming so gruff and unlikable, but his heart warms and opens as the movie progresses. I was shocked by how much I grew to care about his character. The love he shows for his daughter was so powerful and any parent would resonate with that- I loved how Bickford made all that seem so authentic. Bickford was deservedly nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Agnes Moorehead rounds out the main cast with another nomination, for Best Supporting Actress. While her role is more limited, I thought she gave a strong performance with multiple layers. She doesn't really get the big, outstanding moments that the rest of the cast does, but she makes a lasting impression on us. Stephen McNally was effective, too. He seems exactly like a lot of people I've met over the years. The cast in this film is quite strong.

Now, while I'm a big fan of this movie and recognize its merits, I have to admit I'm a bit surprised it was nominated for so many Academy Awards. It doesn't surprise me that it only won one. That's the kind of movie this feels like to me- a really good film with a few great things about it. Wyman gives a strong performance for her Oscar, but the rest of the movie felt really good (not quite great). Still, no reason to put this film down- it's exceptionally well made and a movie I'd highly recommend. I'm not sure I would be excited to see it again, but once was well worth it.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Hamlet, The Lost Weekend, Magic Town, All Quiet on the Western Front