Bright Victory (1951)

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

Robert Buckner (writer)
Baynard Kendrick (novel)

Release Date:

16 July 1951 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In North Africa during World War II, Sergeant Larry Nevins is blinded by a German sniper's bullet. Rehabilitation...

Plot Keywords:

Sergeant | Rehabilitation | Corporal | WWII Veteran | Blind

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Arthur Kennedy	...	Larry Nevins
Peggy Dow	...	Judy Greene
Julie Adams	...	Chris Paterson (as Julia Adams)
James Edwards	...	Joe Morgan
Will Geer	...	Mr. Nevins
Nana Bryant	...	Mrs. Claire Nevins
Jim Backus	...	Bill Grayson
Minor Watson	...	Mr. Paterson
Joan Banks	...	Janet Grayson
Richard Egan	...	Sgt. John Masterson
John Hudson	...	Cpl. John Flagg
Marjorie Crossland	...	Mrs. Paterson
Donald Miele	...	'Moose' Garvey
Murray Hamilton	...	Pete Hamilton
Larry Keating	...	Jess Coe

Also Known As:

Lights Out (UK)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:S | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Florida, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

The airplane disaster that killed romantic lead actor Leslie Howard is mentioned in this film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Sgt. Nevins is having a newspaper read to him, and the death of Leslie Howard is one of the stories. The date on the paper is given as September 3, 1943. Leslie Howard actually died on June 1, 1943.

An unexpectedly super inspirational film.

Was I greatly SURPRISED in the affirmative! This is a beautiful and inspirational serious film telling it like it was and still is where war wounds that change lives is concerned. Arthur Kennedy was brilliant (as usual) portraying his character with a reality which both moved and inspired me, simultaneously! He displays great strength of character making up with Joe Morgan (a difficult proposition in light of his bigoted upbringing - I might add, an astonishingly brilliant performance by James Edwards as Joe). Peggy Dow played her role perfectly as the girl who went in to help out and wound up falling in love with someone, already with a girl back home. She suffered that familiar fate but, was rewarded with his passionate return to her, commenting, "I'd been looking for help in all the wrong places!" No weak performances, the supporting cast is nothing short of aces with a warm though serious performance from Jim Backus as Peggy Dow's brother-in-law and Will Geer as Kennedy's father continued the film's multi-layered victories! Kudos also go to the screenwriter, Robert Bruckner, The director, Mark Robson and the film scorer, Frank Skinner! One of those rare gems from left field where everything works because you can sense that everyone poured their best into it!