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Johnny Belinda
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Synopsis
After years of dumb-blonde and best-friend roles, Jane Wyman proved her skills as a dramatic actress -- and won an Academy Award in the bargain -- in Johnny Belinda. Adapted from a stage play by Elmer Harris, the story takes place in Nova Scotia, where deaf-mute Belinda (Wyman) leads a lonely existence on the hardscrabble farm of her father Black Macdonald (Charles Bickford) and her aunt Aggie (Agnes Moorehead). Newly arrived doctor Robert Richardson (Lew Ayres) takes a special interest in Belinda, vowing to ease her road in life by teaching her sign language. Despite initial resistance from her father and aunt, Belinda quickly learns how to communicate with others, opening a whole, wonderful new world for her. But things take a sorry turn when local lout Locky (Stephan McNally) corners poor Belinda after a village dance and rapes her. If the ending seems a bit ambiguous, it is because director Jean Negulesco intended it that way, allowing the viewer to draw his or her own conclusion regarding Belinda's future relationship with her mentor Dr. Richardson. Upon accepting her Oscar, Jane Wyman commented on the fact that she accomplished this feat through the simple expedient of "keeping my mouth shut." But there is nothing simple or facile in Wyman's astonishing performance as Belinda, which far outclasses the actresses who repeated the role in the two TV remakes. Also worthy of praise is the lush musical score by Max Steiner, one of his best post-Casablanca efforts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Lew Ayres Dr. Robert Richardson
Charles Bickford Black McDonald
Monte Blue Ben
James Craven Interpreter
Jonathan Hale Dr. Gray
Holmes Herbert Judge
Rosalind Ivan Mrs. Poggety
Douglas Kennedy Mountie
Ray Montgomery Tim Moore
Ida Moore Mrs. McKee
Agnes Moorehead Aggie McDonald
Alan Napier Defense Attorney
Mabel Paige Mrs. Lutz
Dan Seymour Pacquet
Jan Sterling Stella McCormick
Richard Walsh Fergus McQuiggen
Joan Winfield Mrs. Tim Moore
Ian Wolfe Rector
Jane Wyman Belinda McDonald
Richard Taylor Floyd McQuiggen
Stephen McNally Locky McCormick

Production Crew

Robert M. Haas Art Director
Ted D. McCord Cinematographer
Max Steiner Composer (Music Score)
Elizabeth Gessner Consultant/advisor
Milo Anderson Costume Designer
Jean Negulesco Director
Robert Wise Director
David Weisbart Editor
Perc Westmore Makeup
Mel Dellar Musical Direction/Supervision
Elmer Harris Play Author
Jerry Wald Producer
Elmer Harris Screen Story
Allen Vincent Screenwriter
Irma Von Cube Screenwriter
William Wallace Set Designer
Elmer Harris Short Story Author
Elmer Harris Short Story Author
Nathan Levinson Sound Recordist
Edwin DuPar Special Effects
William McGann Special Effects
Year: 1948
Runtime: 105
Country: USA
MPAA Rating: NR
Category: Feature

Genre
Drama

Produced by
Warner Brothers

Awards
1948 - 10 Best Films - Film Daily
1948 - 10 Best Films - New York Times
1948 - Best Picture - Academy
1948 - Best Picture - Golden Globe
1948 - Best Picture - National Board of Review
1948 - Best Picture - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie
1948 - Best Picture - Hollywood Foreign Press Association