Bright Victory

What is really interesting about this movie, is the "race" issues it addresses and for the time in which it was made, that is rather remarkable.

The Nevins character is a good old boy from the South and openly expresses his racism. The first time is when he's on the plane headed back to the states and a black soldier sits next to to him. They're both from Florida start talking. Nevins asks him if he knows the country club and the guys says he served tables at it. Nevins now realizes the guy is black and immediately calls over a nurse to sit by him.

The next time is in the rehabilitation hospital. Nevins accidentally walks into a black soldier, also blind. All Nevins recognizes is the man's southern accent and offers to buy him a drink. They become "friends" and hang out together. Then one day, the other blind soldiers mention there are some new patients coming into their ward and Nevins pops off, "Yeah, and I heard 3 of them are (uses the "N" word)". The black guys just stops in his tracks now realizing how his new friend really thinks and feels.

The other blind white soldiers already knew the guy was black and remarked "Maybe he thought you were colored too".

Later on Nevins goes home and is with his parents, who are equally racist. Nevins starts to "see" the errors of his ways/thinking. There is a bit of justification from the father that that was how they were brought up, etc., but for 1951 it is amazing they were even addressing such things let alone using the "N" word.

I first saw this movie as a kid in the early 60's at my dad's suggestion. He wanted me to pay attention to the real story, that being that racism has no place in a free society. I did pay attention, and to this day, his instance that I watch the movie for content is among the fondest memories I have of my Dad. He taught me how to hunt, fish, drive a car, paint a house and respect people. It is all the more remarkable, especially since I grew up in an all white town in western PA. Also, I now live no more than a few hundred yards where the movie was made. The former VF Army Hospital is now mostly under the ownership of the VF Christian College - a great resource and an asset to our community. When my family moved here some 20 years ago, we immediately discovered the "old army base" and I frequently took our kids there to walk, play on the falling down miniature golf course and just try to imagine what the facility was like when it was in use (swimming pool, gymnasium, small duck pin bowing alley, full size golf course and two fishing ponds)-- and what the presence of the base meant to Phoenixville then. I actually played handball on that court that Artuhr Kennedy is tested on for obstacle perception. The facility specialized in head and eye injuries and had a very substantial psychiatric ward as well. Anyhow, along with the anti-racism message umbered in the movie, I enjoy the scenes of the old hospital and reflect on what it looks like now. And of course,-- the scenes of old Phoenixville, although way before my time, bring a sense of nostalgia to me that is hard to describe not being a native of the area. None the less, it's there. As an aside, for anyone who is interested; Phoenixville is where they filmed The Blob with Steve McQueen -- the Colonial theater still stands to this day and has become a landmark. Oddly enough, McQueen and Kennedy would appear together in Nevada Smith years later. It is indeed a small world.

I stumbled upon this excellent and compelling film during AMC's "Veterans' Day Movie Marathon." Dealing with a soldier's (Arthur Kennedy) rehabilitation after losing his sight during WWII in surprisingly frank ways for its time (released in 1951), this seems to me to be the first time I saw raw racism and its consequences in a film. A superb love story on the surface, it's the underlying themes of classism, racism and realistically dealing with the handicapped which set it a notch above the terrific 1946 film, "The Best Years of our Lives." Face it, Harold Russell, while a hero, was no actor. The electricity between Kennedy and his new "friend" (played by Peggy Dow ~ whatever became of this talented actress? Her career lasted only 4 years) is remarkable. Happy ending doesn't detract.

Poignant account of blinded war veteran adjusting to civilian life. Though the premise has built-in emotional appeal, that fine actor Arthur Kennedy prevents the tale from becoming too sappy or even sentimental. Understandably, there were a number of these "adjustment" movies made after WWII, The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946), and The Men (1950), to name two. More than the others, I think, BV follows one man's (Kennedy) difficulties in re- integrating with family, love life, and community. Naturally, films of this type sought to be uplifting and optimistic in dealing with a devastating post-war problem. BV is no exception. Then too, the racial subtext is well-handled, bringing to the surface those inner qualities that are often overridden by outer appearance. In that sense, Larry's (Kennedy) perception is ironically sharpened by blindness once he figures out the lesson.

The movie's well-made, using actual locations such as city sidewalks, VA hospitals, and train stations, all of which provide a realistic feel. Then too, what guy wouldn't like being helped along by the likes of Judy (Dow) who resembles June Allyson's sexy older sister. Too bad, her accomplished career was so short. Just as regrettable is the amazing James Edwards, one of the first Blacks to get dignified roles. Seems his pioneering career was over-shadowed by the equally charismatic Sydney Poitier.

All in all, the movie surpasses its time because of the common humanity that appeals beneath one man's courageous struggle.

Reminds me more of Pride of the Marines than Best Years of Their Lives. Blinded returning vet has to readjust. Arthur Kennedy never was better than in this movie. The ending in this cynical age seems too upbeat, but such endings DID happen. See: The Men with Brando for another crippled returning vet film.