Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima

 

 

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An incredibly sentimental 'account' of the Fatima apparitions of 1917, completely unhindered by any of the true facts, and presented in the rose-hued glow of a Hollywood studio. Ironically one of the best things about the film is the addition of a totally fictitious 'loveable rogue' (Gilbert Roland)and his donkey - so that should give a clue as to the quality of the rest of it. Still, the film is entertaining, and the depiction of the Miracle of the Sun is done well. If you want the definitive dramatised film on Fatima, seek out "Apparitions at Fatima", made by Daniel Costelle in the late 90's and available on video - it was actually filmed at the Cova da Iria with a wonderful largely amateur Portuguese cast. Accurate, very moving, and photographically ravishing. Costelle's film received both Papal approval, and that of Sr. Lucia, the surviving seer of Fatima - recommendations don't come higher than that!

Even though Sister Lucia dos Santos reportedly didn't care much for this movie, 1952's The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima presents a moving, albeit overly dramatic, account of the series of visions of the Virgin Mary experienced by three children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. It is primarily the story of the children and the great faith they exhibited in the face of terrible pressures from all sides as the story of their visions spread throughout the countryside. The message of the Lady herself is somewhat truncated here, as there is no mention of any "secrets" and the content that I, as a Protestant, would regard as controversial is never brought to light. Instead, the movie concentrates more on establishing the sociopolitical context in which the events took place. Most people know a little something about Fatima, but few can truly appreciate the danger the children faced from the strongly anti-clerical position of the state at that time.

While tending to a flock of sheep on a May afternoon in 1917, Lucia dos Santos and her younger friends Jacinta and Francisco Marto are suddenly confronted by the vision of a beautiful lady in the clouds who asks them if they are willing to suffer for the salvation of lost souls and announces that she will visit them on the same day of each of the next several months. The first person they tell of the vision is the rakish but kind-hearted Hugo da Silva (Gilbert Roland), who is an entirely fictional character who adds a great deal to the film. He advises them not to tell anyone else, but young Jacinta can't keep such incredible news to herself, and so the story of the visions quickly begins to spread. While a growing number of people come to believe the story, others dismiss it as a childhood fantasy. The toughest critic is Lucia's mother, who actually punishes her for telling lies. The local priest puts no credence in the children's claims, either (suggesting that, if it were true, it was probably the work of the devil), and tries to squelch the story altogether out of fear of government reprisal. The socialist government that had come to power in Portugal in 1910 had all but made the practice of religion illegal, closing churches and locking up priests and bishops. While the state had eased up on the restrictions somewhat by 1917, no church officials wanted to risk stirring up any new trouble. Despite the clergy's best efforts to dismiss the story as the product of a child's imagination, the state does take action, shutting down the local church and putting increasing pressure on the children to recant their story. That is largely because thousands of everyday men and women are assembling in Fatima each month to witness the visitations themselves - and the same socialists who shouted "Power to the people!" on their road to power fear the assembly of large numbers of people just as much as any other oppressive government once they have achieved their goal.

Some critics described a rather passionless performance by Susan Whitney as Lucia, but I thought she did a fantastic job. Despite all the tears she shed at being accused of lying by the state, the church, and even her own family, she demonstrates an inner peace that comes from understanding, taking on more and more of a beatific radiance as the story works its way up to the famous Miracle of the Sun. I don't know if it's the lighting or what, but Lucia possesses an aura that is fully captured on film (an effect that modern cinematography seems technically incapable of producing). You might think that the addition of a source of comic relief in the form of the fictional character Hugo would be a mistake in such a serious drama, but it works beautifully in this script, actually reinforcing - in the end - the power of the message that is at the heart of this story. This is just a wonderful and emotionally powerful film whichever way you look at it.

This was a movie I viewed since I was a child and has left such a impression on me until this day. It is very moving and also amazing to see the faith that these three children have, which is very much lost these days. I recomend this to all and not nessessarly to any one denomination. It truly is a very inspiring movie and has to been seen in it's original state.

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5.0 out of 5 stars The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima . dvd !!!
Please put this movie , The Miracle of our Lady of Fatima , on DVD. in Full Screen , Wide Screen . This is the most needed movie today in our times. Please amazon. Read more

Published on May 6 2004 by shawn d curtis

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Movie!!
I have fond memories of when I was a little girl in the 70's probably about 7 or 8 years old watching The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima on TV one Easter and being captivated by... Read more

Published on Nov 29 2003 by Thebookwoman

5.0 out of 5 stars The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima
I have viewed this film many times & at one time had a copy of the film of which I loaned & never had it returned to me. Read more

Published on Feb 5 2003 by Mary K. Thompson

5.0 out of 5 stars Still to be considered after all these years
Through the search engine of Amazon.com, I was able to acquire The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima, and to see it again after about 50 years. Read more

Published on Nov 20 2002 by Leganto

3.0 out of 5 stars THE ACTING IS SO BAD!
MY CAPTION SAYS IT ALL. FIND A GOOD WRITTEN HISTORY OF THE APPARITION, OR EVEN LOOK INTO THE CCC ANIMATED FILM. THIS IS LAMENTABLE!

Published on Nov 18 2002 by pietrogiovanni

5.0 out of 5 stars BEAUTIFUL MOVIE
This is a story that never grows old. The film is beautifully photographed...although in bad need of dialogue looping..... Read more

Published on Oct 24 2002

4.0 out of 5 stars The Anti-Communist Virgin Mary
My dad told me that he first saw this movie on TV in November 1963, on KHJ (now KCAL) channel 9 in Los Angeles, the Sunday that John Kennedy was buried. Read more

Published on Aug 10 2002

3.0 out of 5 stars It's Nice to Have Cousins With Whom To Get Into Trouble
The reverent manner in which this story is told, along with the beautiful numbers by the Norman Luboff Choir, make up for the less-than-stellar acting and the innaccuracies... Read more

Published on April 5 2002 by Deborah Earle

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor casting ruins the movie
The girl playing Lucis is much too old for the part.
She looks like she is l4 or 15 years old. The real
Lucia was only ten years old at the time of the... Read more

Published on April 2 2002

2.0 out of 5 stars FATIMA....SHMATIMA
Although this film is surprisingly well-done in terms of cinematography, it panders rather inexplicably to the dubious theme. Read more

Published on Sep 16 2001 by troytron

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