The Blue Veil (1951)

Director:

Curtis Bernhardt

Writers:

François Campaux (story)
Norman Corwin (writer)

Release Date:

1952 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Who is the real Mother of this Child? The woman who gave it life... or the woman who gave it love?

Plot:

Louise Mason is a young widow who fills her empty life with the task of becoming a children's nurse...

Plot Keywords:

Remake | Beautiful Woman | Nanny | Remake Of French Film | Maternity Ward

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win

Cast

Jane Wyman	...	Louise Mason
Charles Laughton	...	Fred K. Begley
Joan Blondell	...	Annie Rawlins
Richard Carlson	...	Gerald Kean
Agnes Moorehead	...	Mrs. Palfrey
Don Taylor	...	Dr. Robert Palfrey
Audrey Totter	...	Helen Williams
Cyril Cusack	...	Frank Hutchins
Everett Sloane	...	District Attorney
Natalie Wood	...	Stephanie Rawlins
Vivian Vance	...	Alicia
Carleton G. Young	...	Henry Palfrey
Alan Napier	...	Prof. George Carter
Warner Anderson	...	Bill Parker
Les Tremayne	...	Joplin

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Wald/Krasna Productions

Trivia:

Les Tremayne's first film.

Movie Connections:

Edited into "Falcon Crest: Desperation (#6.28)" (1987)

Soundtrack:

Daddy

World War 1 Tearjerker as Wyman Shines Taking Care of Children

Remember Channel 9 in New York City? So many times they would show the classic THE BLUE VEIL with Jane Wyman, Richard Carlson, Charles Laughton, Vivian Vance, Natalie Wood and Joan Blondell. It was part of what was known as THE MILLION DOLLAR MOVIE.

Go know that this magnificent film would disappear. Jane Wyman is now past 90 years of age. It would be a tribute to her to show this outrageously good movie.

While Wyman was nominated for best actress in it in 1951, she lost to Vivien Leigh in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Few people know that Wyman won the Golden Globe Award for best actress of the year for this remarkable film.

The film pulls out every emotional stop imaginable in depicting the life of a woman who cares for other people's children. The film begins with a newly widowed World War 1 Wyman losing her child after giving birth. From that point on, the viewer is taken on an emotional roller-coaster, as the film shows every situation she encounters while caring for other people's children. Affectionately known as Lulu, Wyman is at her best.

In tribute to the long career of Jane Wyman, this film should be released while she is still living. We should demand this.

After all these years, I was able to obtain a copy and I saw this wonderful film the other day. The picture is even better after all these years. Wyman is better than terrific here. She always played the part of the victim in her pictures. Those sad-dreary eyes will get to you. After 56 years, my eyes filled up with tears. This is an unforgettable tear-jerker of the highest quality. They sure knew how to make pictures in those years. What a wonderful supporting cast.

Wyman sacrifices her life to care for other people's children. How many women would do that in today's society? The opportunity was there to marry for convenience. Please note the fabulous performance of Charles Laughton in a supporting role, as a lonely widower left with an infant. He is totally out of his usual domineering character here. His performance is marvelous and well understated. Natalie Wood is just fine as Stephanie. She will also tug at your heart when she refers to Lulu (Wyman) as her mother when her own mother, played by nominated supporting actress Joan Blondell fails to arrive at her communion.