Evening star., 1942-11-22
Song Of Bernadette Filming Will Be Modern but Tmeless
Producer William Peberg Reveals nto KeepW
Story of Loudes Miracles in
By Kate Holiday.
HOLLYWOOD

HOLLYWOOD.
ITO those who believe in God, NO
explanation of this story is neces-
sary. To those who don't believe in
God, no explanation will suffice"
These two sentences will act as
the foreword of the screen version
Of Franz Werfers "The Song of
Bernadette." They speak for them
selves.
Ever since Twentieth Century Fox
reported 1t had purchased the film
rights to this best seller, the public
has been wondering how it could
possibly be made into motion pic
ture.
And that public has not merely
sat quietly and waited until the pro-
duction came along. Instead, it has
bombarded the studio with letters,
wires, drawings, statements, all sug-
gesting ideas for the screening
Hundreds of candidates have been
nominated for the part of the girl
who saw the miracles at Lourdes.
Only one man can tell how THE
Song of Bernadette" will be made
William Perlberg, the man who is
producing it.
"The most important thing about
the filming of this tale" Perlberp,
told me, "is that it be done as if 1t
had happened in 1912. 1t must be
modern story, story which could
have happened any time.
Remember that in Bernadette's
day people said, But this can't be
true! After all, we are living in the
10Th century! This isn't the Middle
Ages! But those people could not
credit simplicity, faith, an amaz-
ing personality any more than the
men and women of any time have
been able to credit some one who
was not exactly the Norm. Those
people would have disbelieved the
story of Christ, too, even if they
had heard him preach.
Set in the Present.
consequently, while we will not
have juke boxes and the trappings
of 1912 evidence, we will make the
production timeless but modern.
Therefore 1t will be believable, I
think, even to cynics. Bernadette
will be alive, not woman Of hear
say. Her thinking will be vital
Her words will be creditable. With
out speaking slang, she will speak as
you and speak. She will be one
of u.s."
What about the appearances of
"The Lady of Lourdes?" was he
going to show a woman, for in
stance?
II haven't decided yet" he an
swered. "In fact, probably won't
decide until the day of the shoot
ing. But, if I do use a living per-
son instead of voice alone in the
grotto, that person will be exactly
as Bernadette saw her: A beautiful,
natural girl dressed in flowing
white, with flowers on her feet.
Il plan, incidentally, all through
the film, to use actors who are not
well-known. In this way, the public
will not watch man and think,
oh, saw him last night with Lana
Turner!' for this would destroy the
credibility of the character entire
ly and, so destroy the credibility Of
the picture itself"
There's funny thing about this
picture" Perlberg went on. And
every one in Hollywood seems to feel
it. We all believe that it must and
will be magnificent, regardless of
what we ourselves do.
Artists Clamor fOr Roles.
II have had writer's beg me for
the chance to work on the script.
I have been offered every actress
in the town for the title role. I
have had directors say they would
work for nothing And that is un-
precedented!
you know" he went on, "the
strange thing about the picture is
that nearly every religion in the
world is involved. The story was
about a Catholic and the churcG
has been consulted in the writing