Tonight's Movie: Bright Victory (1951) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

A really warm and wonderful film, BRIGHT VICTORY (1951), is available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

I just watched it for the first time this week, and appropriately enough I am reviewing it on the February 17th birthday of the film's lead actor, Arthur Kennedy.

Kennedy was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for his performance as Larry Nevins, who is blinded while serving in the army in World War II.

It's a horrible break, but Larry very gradually begins to adjust to a new way of life in a special hospital ward for blind veterans in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

One of the biggest hurdles for Larry is phoning his parents (Will Geer and Nana Bryant) in Florida to tell them of his injury; Larry is their only child, and they have a difficult time handling the news.

Larry becomes good friends with another blind soldier, Joe Morgan (James Edwards), then inadvertently torpedoes their relationship when he makes racist comments. Larry has had no idea that his good friend is black. Blindness was the great equalizer, at least temporarily. Larry is shocked but the experience starts him thinking about the attitudes he was raised with.

While learning his way around the local town Larry gets to know bank clerk Judy Greene (the incandescent Peggy Dow). They enjoy spending time together, but Larry lets Judy know early on that he's got a girl back home, Chris (Julie Adams). Larry thinks of Judy as a good friend but despite that, Judy can't help falling for Larry.

After having considerable success learning new skills at the hospital, Larry is granted a month's leave to visit home before being sent to a different facility to learn more advanced skills. Larry and Chris still love one another, but Larry realizes the factory job waiting for him with Chris's father (Minor Watson) is simply a "make work" job and that her father doesn't believe he'll be able to to have a successful career given his blindness.

Larry understands that he'll need to look elsewhere if he wants to find a fulfilling career, but Chris is reluctant to leave behind all she knows and face the challenges of life with Larry. He's truly at a crossroads in his life.

BRIGHT VICTORY was written by Robert Buckner based on the novel LIGHTS OUT by Baynard Kendrick. It was sensitively directed by Mark Robson, who made the moving Korean War "homefront" drama I WANT YOU (1951) with Peggy Dow the same year.

I had no idea what to expect and was completely wrapped up in BRIGHT VICTORY from start to finish. Kennedy is outstanding as we follow Larry's journey from his suicidal reaction to his diagnosis to his joy learning he has a special ability to know when he's about to run into a wall, and on through his ups and downs as he figures out what he's going to do with the rest of his life...and also matures past his original attitudes towards blacks.

Edwards is wonderfully appealing as Larry's friend Joe. When Larry makes the comment which sunders their friendship it's heartbreaking. I tear up every time I think of the movie's final scene featuring Kennedy and Edwards, which is very deeply moving.

I was impressed that this film managed to tackle both disability and racism in an interesting and realistic, non-preachy way -- and in just 97 minutes. Despite the tough subject matter, BRIGHT VICTORY is ultimately a positive and uplifting film.

I also can't say enough good things about Dow, whose beaming character lights up the film. Her goodness is never treacly; she's simply a lovely, upbeat person who is willing to commit to Larry and the challenges of his life, if he'll have her.

Among the large cast, Jim Backus stands out as Judy's lawyer brother-in-law who encourages Larry to think about the possibility of a legal career. His wife is played by Joan Banks, who was long married to Frank Lovejoy.

Richard Egan also has a good role as one of the other blind soldiers in Larry's ward. His eventual reunion with his wife and the little boy he's never met is another wonderfully moving moment.

The deep cast also includes Rock Hudson, Peggie Castle, Larry Keating, and Jerry Paris.

The Kino Lorber Blu-ray is from a new 2K master which does an excellent job showing off the black and white cinematography of William Daniels. Disc extras consist of a six-film trailer gallery and a commentary track by Gary Gerani.

I enjoyed BRIGHT VICTORY as much as any film I've seen in recent months. It's one of those movies which leaves the viewer feeling better for having watched it.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.

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