Johnny Belinda
First screened in September 1999 / Most recently screened in February 2016
Director: Jean Negulesco. Cast: Jane Wyman, Lew Ayres, Charles Bickford, Agnes Moorehead, Stephen McNally, Jan Sterling, Jonathan Hale, Rosalind Ivan, Mabel Paige, Ida Moore, Ray Montgomery, Joan Winfield, Dan Seymour, Alan Napier, Barbara Bates. Screenplay: Irma von Cube and Allen Vincent (based on the play by Elmer Harris).

Twitter Capsule: Pure vessel of musty ideology about gender, sex, and disability. Wrestles with its own conservatism. Mostly loses.

VOR:   Exists for narrow reasons (reaping Oscars) and broad ones (conflating disability with malady, womanhood with motherhood, philanthropy with sex). Intriguing. No mold-breaker.



Photo © 1948 Warner Bros. Pictures

Not yet reviewed in full. Grade: C

(in September 1999: B)


Academy Award Nominations and Winners:
Best Picture
Best Director: Jean Negulesco
Best Actress: Jane Wyman
Best Actor: Lew Ayres
Best Supporting Actress: Agnes Moorehead
Best Supporting Actor: Charles Bickford
Best Screenplay: Irma von Cube and Allen Vincent
Best Cinematography (Black & White): Ted D. McCord
Best Art Direction (Black & White): Robert M. Haas and William Wallace
Best Film Editing: David Weisbart
Best Original Score (Drama/Comedy): Max Steiner
Best Sound

Golden Globe Nominations and Winners:
Best Picture (Drama; tie)
Best Actress: Jane Wyman

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