Johnny Belinda

Oscar-bait, 1948-style. Nominated for 12 Oscars, but winning only one (Jane Wyman, Best Actress), it's the story of a deaf woman who is raped and later put on trial for murder. This is the type of movie that Dancer in the Dark was deconstructing, and it plods along without the Von Trierian irony. I could tell it was going to be uninteresting from the first shot of Belinda. She looks like a cross between Amelie and Balthazar.

Belinda estreava há 75 anos em New York. Por séculos ouvia o nome desse filme Johnny Belinda e achava que era um filme noir por parecer nome de gângster, rá! Se não estou enganada é o primeiro filme Hollywoodiano que trata abertamente as consequências do estupro, não coloca tanto o dedo na ferida quanto o da Lupino, mas é excelente em seus próprios méritos. PirateBay.

Jane Wyman did indeed deserve her Oscar for playing the raped deaf girl. It was super sweet and sad at the same time. A heartwarming and crushing tale wonderfully captured by Jean Negulesco. This is one I wouldn't have minded more of a moral focus for a stronger emotional effect, but toning down a already tragic story was perhaps not a bad idea in this case. For what played-out was at times magical.

I really enjoyed this classic! Jane Wyman was outstanding as the deaf mute, as was Lew Ayres as the doctor who helped her learn to communicate. It has so much going for it: drama, romance, action and emotion.

It constantly avoids the most obvious directions you'd avoid from such a melodrama but it still ends up where you'd expect. Sometimes the lack of predictability is refreshing, at others it feels forced and even absurd. It all adds up to something worth watching, but not particularly exciting.

Has all the subtlety and nuance of a silent melodrama, with Wyman indeed looking the part (she's very much made up like a 20s star, the way I see it, not unlike Lillian Gish) as a virginal deaf mute against rape, small-town ignorance and the cruel world at large. The performances are mostly good but I don't think there's much beneath the surface.

Jane Wyman is a beautiful deaf mute growing up in near isolation from the world. She is raped by a local tough guy, and later develops a relationship with a new doctor. The story examines the small town psyche and demonstrates how honorable actions can easily be misinterpreted. Stellar performances in this dated by excellent movie.

The message is "even rape has good consequences". Epic fail.

Terrific near-forgotten classic. Nominated for 12 Academy awards including Best Picture, won only for best actress (Jane Wyman). Very engaging, if a little dated, look at rural eastern Canada.