The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952) User Reviews

The Character Has Stayed The Same

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 28 November 2009]

Although the religious aspects of The Miracle Of Our Lady Of Fatima story stuck pretty much to the established story, the political dynamics were tailored very much for the Cold War. It was a case of a lot of mutual needs being met.

In 1910 the Braganza-Coburg dynasty was overthrown in a revolution which plunged Portugal into a great deal of political turmoil until Antonio Salazar took power in 1926. The revolution that threw out the monarchy was anti-clerical in nature, that is true enough, but it was hardly the nascent Marxist state that is depicted in The Miracle Of Our Lady Of Fatima. That was done to meet Cold War needs.

The Roman Catholic Church under Pius XII and Antonio Salazar's Portugese state were staunchly anti-Communists. Portugal, neutral in World War II was now a member of NATO. It was under Salazar who was a former Seminarian and religious Catholic that the Fatima legend was spread and tourism to the site of Fatima was encouraged and the story really took off from there. The film helped the Salazar regime and most assuredly encouraged Portugese tourism.

But as to the story itself, if we believe it, like Bernadette of Soubirous, three pious Catholic youths, a brother and sister and their cousin were given a vision of the blessed Virgin Mary and an insight into what the future holds for God's creations on this planet. And on October 13, 1917 a sign was given from the heaven's themselves to confirm the truth of the children's story.

The three children, Sammy Ogg, Sherry Jackson, and Susan Whitney give deeply felt and sincere performances. Frank Silvera plays the administrator of the town and a sinister individual indeed, personifying the anti-clerical regime of the time. The skeptical folks of the time is personified by Gilbert Roland, friend of the children who is not a person of faith by any means, but the protector of the kids when they need one.

Roland is one of my favorite character actors from the golden age of the cinema. He has enough cheerful Latin charm for a dozen people and he's never boring in any film. He's reason enough to watch the film even if you are skeptical in matters of faith.

The younger two children played by Ogg and Jackson died during the great influenza epidemic post World War I. Susan Whitney's character Lucia Dos Santos became a nun and was revered as a living saint in the Roman Catholic community until her death at the ripe old age of 97 just a few years ago. Whitney's performance though good was hardly rewarded with an Oscar the way Jennifer Jones's was for playing St. Bernadette. The Miracle Of Our Lady Of Fatima did in fact get one Oscar nomination, one of several Max Steiner got for his musical score.

In 2001 I was touring Portugal and visited Fatima. A place more isolated and remote you can hardly imagine. But other than the giant cathedral there, pictured at the end of the film, and the various little shops selling religious articles, the place has kept the character of what it was in 1917. No one is going to put up a Fatima Hilton there, it would ruin the place altogether.

For Roman Catholics the film is a matter of faith. For film fans it's not a bad telling of a strange and beautiful story.

Hollywood Vision of Fatima Deeply Rooted in the 1950s

[marcin_kukuczka · 8/10 · 30 May 2010]

Although there is a considerable number of religious movies of the 1950s, this one stands out as quite unique and extraordinary due to its captivating content...

1917...the horror of WWI does not manage to spread totally with its destruction and death. Deep within the Portuguese Cova Da Iria, in the land ignored by the new corrupted masonic government (consider Alfonso Costa and the 1910 events), on May 13th a beautiful Lady from Heaven appears to three little children, Lucia (10), Francisco (9) and Jacinta (7). She asks them to come to the very place on every thirteenth day of consecutive months, asks them to offer sacrifices for human conversion and ... promises to give them a miracle. The news spread not only to nearby towns but to all Portugal. Parents fear and doubt; believers ask the children to pray; skeptics mock; Masonic mayor arrests them; yet, no one predicts that the place would become one of the most magnificent sanctuaries visited by a few pontiffs and millions of pilgrims from all over the world...

This movie was for long considered to be the most popular film about the events. However, more recently, for more than ten years, it has been compared to another film, FATIMA (1997) by Fabrizio Costa. Yet, the new version did not manage to eliminate Brahms' film from the list of best religious films; it did, however, lower its value due to quite obvious reasons. While THE MIRACLE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA has become quite clichéd, Costa's movie more convincingly addresses modern viewers thanks to a more developed interpretation of the events as well as well depicted plots. Although my intention isn't to compare the two films, I have to state clearly that there are three obvious facts that one cannot ignore about this 1950s' production.

Firstly, it is a typical Hollywood view of religion (which is not necessarily wrong but very condensed and not much thought provoking). Secondly, it is a movie made at the time when not much was yet revealed of what Fatima Apparitions are about. What I mean by this, in particular, is the Pontiff of John Paul II so closely linked to the Message of Fatima...here, naturally, nothing could be said about the Pontiff in 1952, which makes it now pretty dated a view of these highly prophetic apparitions. Thirdly, it is a typical story-like content where viewers are supplied with facts in a linear manner rather than a desirable insight into the Message: penance, sacrifice, conversion, peace. Although that view does not necessarily refer to the entire movie (there are some moments that clearly constitute exception to the highlighted factors), those absorb the viewer in majority. Nevertheless, it would be highly unjust not to see the merits of the film.

THE MIRACLE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA belongs to few of such films that nicely presents the historic characters that were part of the events. Here, let me start from the Seers of Fatima: it seems (and that is very accurate) that our attention is called upon Lucia dos Santos (Susan Whitney), who was the only child who talked with the Lady and whom Virgin Mary gave the three secrets in full (Jacinta saw and heard Mary while Francisco only saw Her but didn't hear anything). We see Lucia as a nice good hearted girl who is the oldest and... spiritually most mature (being 10 years old), who has faith but also doubts (if you read MEMOIRS written by Sister Lucy (1907-2005), you will find a lot about those doubts that she faced from May till October 1917). Jacinta and Francisco Marto are showed as if in the shadow of Lucia (pity, there is so little about their sacrifices for sinners) but the viewer gets a perfect view of their virtues at the scene with the cruel mayor of Ourem, Arturo Dos Santos (Frank Silvera). At the face of this evil man, his tricks and his arrogance, their courage, faith, confidence and goodness shine forth.

When we consider other characters, most of them are presented clearly and accurately, including Maria Rosa (Angela Clarke), Lucia's mother who had greatest doubts about the apparitions till the end of her life because of her reasonable modesty. She thought that her family was not worthy being granted such a grace. Yet, Love proves something different... I would have doubts concerning the portrayal of Antonio Dos Santos (Jay Novello), Lucia's father. According to her aforementioned MEMOIRS, her father had many friends in the village, they played cards in their free time and drank wine (which is absolutely common in the southern countries of hot climates). But being deeply religious, he wasn't an alcohol addict who would not attend Mass and plan to sell land depriving the family of means to live. Therefore, it is a serious distortion that may badly influence the view of the Dos Santos family which.

Nevertheless, the fact that this movie was made as early as the 1950s proves to us the interest in the miraculous events at Cova Da Iria which took place at the dawn of the 20th century. And it is good that it was made, that still many people in various countries see it and think about how the light of faith illumines the darkest hours of history.

But, neither much words nor action will help here. Such films are there rather to experience; they are there to change something in you. At the final scene, Sister Lucy seems to give an answer to what it means to be happy: 'Console Jesus and Mary and make sacrifices for the reparation of sins,' that is the story of the little shepherd Children, the story of their short but fruitful lives that have touched millions of people throughout the world. Isn't that the story of Love at the face of which only a fool would say that there is no God?

Comparsion between the 1951 movie and the 1997 movie

[RuiCraveiro · 8/10 · 14 May 2007]

Being from Portugal, and having seen both films, no wonder why real-life Soror Lucia at the time didn't like the 1951 movie... it's lyrically beautiful and most of the movie was shot in Portugal, but it doesn't make up for the reality that it was. At least, the actors tried the best they could for making a nice movie.

The 1997 movie (called "Fátima", and originally conceived for the television broadcasting) itself, being Portuguese and made there, gives a much better accuracy of what really was the miracle of Fátima, the destiny of the chosen Lúcia, Jacinta and Francisco; and even including secondary stories (wondering if that secondary story was real or not). The parting of Jacinta and Francisco, while is not included in the 1951 movie, it is in the 2001 movie, with great drama.

However, both are two must-see movies...;)

You'll really believe on the miracle which conquered millions of people in Portugal :)

'You Promise To Give Us A Miracle!'

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 5 December 1999]

Since 1917, the mountain village of Fátima, central Portugal, located on the tableland of Cova Da Iria, southeast of Leiria, has been one of the most famous Marian shrines in the world, visited by thousands of pilgrims annually.

"The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima" opened with a 'persecution' against the Clerical Orders opposed to the government throwing the priests into prison like common criminals..

On May 23, 1917 and each subsequent month until October, three young peasant children, Lucia dos Santos (Susan Whitney) and her cousins Francisco Marto (Sammy Ogg) and Jacinta Marto (Sherry Jackson) reportedly saw a 'LADY' on a little tree - while playing in the woods - who identified herself as the 'LADY OF THE ROSARY'.

The children's extraordinary event was treated with an attitude of doubt and whole 'skepticism'..but with 'courage' they fought the 'threat' that gripped them from strong opposition from the local authority, the Magistrate (Carl Milletaire) and with 'faith' as with the help of their loyal friend Hugo da Silva (Gilbert Roland) they convinced their 'frightened'

parents (Angela Clarke, Jay Novello, Norman Rice & Frances Morris) giving them with 'truth' a new meaning to life in Fátima.

On October 13, 1917, the Portuguese people understood the radiance of their inspiring story when a crowd (generally estimated at about l00,000) gathered at Fátima and witnessed a 'MIRACULOUS SOLAR PHENOMENON', immediately after the 'LADY' had appeared to the 3 children healing 'lame' and 'blind' people as well.

Photographed in Technicolor and with a sincere screenplay, this beautiful religious film - that I recommend highly - was remarkably intense and profound in thoughts and feelings.

John Brahm's direction had its fine moments and Max Steiner's music - Nominated for Best Scoring of a Dramatic Picture - flourished the screen with sounds of tenderness and sympathy.

The performance of Gilbert Roland and the 3 peasant children were entirely moving and convincing..throbbing the beat of our heart with deep 'faith', complete 'belief' and loyal 'truth'.

To the readers who are interested in 'Our Lady of Fatima', I can add that after initial opposition, the bishop of Leiria on October 13, 1930 accepted the children's visions as the appearance of the VIRGIN MARY and in the same year, papal indulgences were granted to pilgrims.

Enjoyable and really poignant picture based on actual events at Fatima in the summer of 1917

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 4 September 2013]

In 1917, three shepherd children living just outside Fatima , Portugal have visions of a lovely lady in a cloud . It happened on May 13, 1917, ten year old Lúcia Santos (Susan Whitney) and her cousins Jacinta (Sherry Jackson) and Francisco Marto were herding sheep at a location known as the Cova Da Iria near their home village of Fátima, Portugal . The anticlerical government carried out a communist state coup (1910) and they wish to squelch the Church ; then reports of religious experiences are cause for serious concern . Yet the children stand by their story, and holy Virgen brings a holy message . But an administrator of the town (Frank Silvera) detains the children though they are supported by Father Ferreira (Richard Hale) . While , a skeptical man named Hugo Da Silva (personified by Gilbert Roland) helps them .

This pleasant picture contains a message of peace and hope for humanity . This is a good film with a religious plot and memorable final in which the Virgen proves her reality with a spectacular miracle that is seen by everyone present . The movie displays a colorful and evocative cinematography by Edwin DuPar . Emotive as well as sensitive musical score by the classical Max Steiner , nominated Oscar Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic film . The motion picture was well directed by John Brahm who directed two masterpieces back-to-back: the stylish and moody 'Jack the Ripper' and, in a similar vein, ¨Handover street¨(1945), a Gothic melodrama about insanity and murder, set in Victorian London. Another of Brahm's films, not in the same league as the aforementioned, but nonetheless quite enjoyable, is ¨The Mad Magician¨ (1954). Other pictures dealing with historical facts about Fatima are : ¨La Señora De Fatima¨(1951) by Rafael Gil with Inés Orsini as Lucía Abóbora , Fernando Rey , Tito Junco , José María Lado and ¨Fatima¨ (1997) (TV) by Fabrizio Coasta with Joaquin De Almeida , Omero Antonutti and Vanessa Artunes as Lucia .

The historical events are the following : the Spring and Summer of 1916, three little shepherd children, Lucia Santos and her two cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, experienced the visitation of an Angel on three separate occasions. The Angel appeared to them as they watched their sheep, teaching them specific prayers to pray, to make sacrifices, and to spend time in adoration of the Lord. These three visits were apparently to prepare the children for the visitations of the Blessed Mother, which were to follow in 1917.There was built a Chapel of Apparitions, at the place where the Fátima apparitions . Lúcia described seeing a woman "brighter than the sun, shedding rays of light clearer and stronger than a crystal ball filled with the most sparkling water and pierced by the burning rays of the sun". Astonished they ran back to their village and told everyone. Further appearances were reported to have taken place on the thirteenth day of the month in June and July. In these, the woman asked the children to do penance and Acts of Reparation as well as making personal sacrifices to save sinners. The children subsequently wore tight cords around their waists to cause themselves pain, performed self-flagellation using stinging nettles, abstained from drinking water on hot days, and performed other works of penance. According to Lúcia's account, in the course of her appearances, the woman confided to the children three secrets, now known as the Three Secrets of Fátima . Thousands of people flocked to Fátima and Aljustrel in the following months, drawn by reports of visions and miracles. On August 13, 1917, the provincial administrator Artur Santos believing that the events were politically disruptive, intercepted and jailed the children before they could reach the Cova da Iria that day. Prisoners held with them in the provincial jail later testified that the children, while upset, were first consoled by the inmates, and later led them in praying the rosary. The administrator interrogated the children and tried unsuccessfully to get them to divulge the contents of the secrets. In the process, he threatened the children, saying he would boil them in a pot of oil, one by one unless they confessed. The children refused, but Lúcia told him everything short of the secrets, and offered to ask the Lady for permission to tell the Administrator the secrets. That month, instead of the usual apparition in the Cova da Iria on the 13th, the children reported that they saw the Virgin Mary on 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption, at nearby Valinhos.[3]As early as July 1917 it was claimed that the Virgin Mary had promised a miracle for the last of her apparitions on October 13, so that all would believe. What happened then became known as the "Miracle of the Sun". A crowd believed to number approximately 70,000, including newspaper reporters and photographers, gathered at the Cova da Iria. The incessant rain had finally ceased and a thin layer of clouds cloaked the silver disc of the sun. Lúcia, moved by what she said was an interior impulse, called out to the crowd to look at the sun. Witnesses later spoke of the sun appearing to change colors and rotate like a wheel.

Simplified version of events is sincere attempt to tell the story...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 25 August 2006]

Missing the mark is this MIRACLE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA, although a sincere attempt has been made to tell the story without too many additions or over-dramatizing of actual events. Even Max Steiner's busy background score is not enough to overcome the many flaws evident in the telling.

The simple truth is that none of it comes to life as vividly as THE SONG OF BERNADETTE managed to do during the previous decade, with its nuanced understanding of the various political events that shaped the period. Here the political elements are seen simply as a repression of all things pertaining to religion and oppression of The Catholic Church by the authorities in Portugal in a sort of paranoia about Communism.

To be fair, this tale of children seeing The Virgin Mary and stirring up the wrath of unbelievers is told in a straightforward manner without any name stars or over-dramatizing of the actual events. And the only marquee name is GILBERT ROLAND whose role is that of a fictional rogue who helps the children when they need some aid.

But the children are not quite up to the task demanded of them by the screenplay (nor are they as appealing as they ought to be) and the script never matches the soaring religiosity of Steiner's musical themes. The climactic spinning of the sun for the miracle sequence is well done even though this was long before CGI effects were available.

On the technical side, the Warnercolor badly needs restoration. It has a muddy look that surely is not intentional nor the way it looked when the film was originally released.

Overall, a fairly accurate re-telling of events but not as inspirational as it should have been. Hopefully, it will prompt those who don't know the Fatima story to do some research of their own.

Not to be judged as a religious film alone.

[ozthegreatat42330 · 9/10 · 5 April 2007]

It is all too easy to find positive or negative aspects of the religious message of this film, released nine years after "The Song of Bernadette." In the ravaged middle of the twentieth century, torn up by wars and desolation, movies of faith helped to revive the spirits of many people, and that alone gave films like this great value. But the fact is, it is also great movie making, with a great story. While in my mind it does not match the sheer artistry of "Bernadette," It is well constructed and captures again the two sides of the question, whether to believe or not believe. There is a lot of documentation to support the validity of the story, but again if one chooses not to accept it, all the evidence in the world would be meaningless.

None-the-less, the catholic church took it very seriously. Sister Lucia, it is rumored sent a sealed letter to Rome just shortly before her death with the third and final message of the "lady." with instructions that it not be opened until a specific date. whether or not this is true, I do not know, but I do know that this is one of those films that will last for generations.

"I am the Lady of the Rosary".

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 29 March 2016]

As a parochial school student during the Fifties, our religious classes heard about the miraculous events that occurred at Lourdes, France in 1858, and in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. The events of this movie would have only been a few decades gone by at the time, so it's a bit incongruous that I'm seeing the movie now for just the first time. Both the 1943 film "The Song of Bernadette" and this one portray their central characters in a similar fashion; in the earlier picture, Bernadette Soubirous never claimed that her vision involved the Blessed Mother. The same could be said here of the three youngsters who experienced both the vision and voice of a spectral figure who stated she was the 'Lady of the Rosary'. The movie suggests that the apparition was the Blessed Virgin Mary by virtue of the belief of the villagers and those of surrounding towns who made the pilgrimage to get a look for themselves.

The movie does not purport to be an entirely somber treatment, there are any number of humorous scenes, mostly involving the fictional character Hugo da Sliva, called Uncle Hugo by Lucia (Susan Whitney) and her cousins Jacinta (Sherry Jackson) and Francisco (Sammy Ogg). I found it more than ironic that Hugo's donkey was named Lucifer, that was almost like asking for trouble from Heaven. Uncle Hugo's hucksterism during the pilgrimages to Fatima was particularly noteworthy, very much like the snake-oil salesmen of all those early Westerns you've seen hawking firewater and medical miracles.

More than anything, the picture appears to faithfully portray how a conviction held firmly in belief was paramount for the three pious children. Unwavering in their faith, the children were willing to suffer the consequences of their belief in the holy vision they experienced. A closing scene depicts a million of the faithful descending on the tiny village on October 13th, 1951 for the dedication of a newly constructed basilica honoring Our Lady of Fatima. As a recommendation, I would invite anyone with an open heart and mind to view the picture and experience the virtuous faith that guided these three youngsters to a life of pious devotion.

A Meaningful Film

[debunks-1 · 10/10 · 13 November 2004]

This is a splendid, meaningful film in the spiritual genre which details the visions claimed by three Portuguese children during the height of tumultuous events in Europe preceding the rise of communism in Russia. The film briefly underscores the persecution of the Catholic Church in Portugal at the turn of the last century. Enough humor, vis a vis the fictitious character "Hugo" the local village thief, inebriate and film-flam artist, is injected into the movie which offsets the sombre subject matter. The children are at first disbelieved, and the local priest fears further persecution at the hands of the local authorities should the details of the children's visions come to light. The children are hounded by the authorities who attempt to compel them to recant, all to no avail. Hugo tries to make money out of the venture by selling 'relics' to the thousands of pilgrims who flock to the site in search of a miracle. The film concludes with the 'vision of the sun' whirling and descending to the earth during a violent rainstorm, after which it returns to its designated spot in the heavens. A fine family film. Well cast and thoroughly delightful to watch.

Loyal to the story to a certain extent, but how loyal is it?

[Atreyu_II · 7/10 · 7 August 2010]

The story of the 3 shepherd children of Fátima (Lúcia and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta) and their visions of Virgin Mary coming from Heaven on a cloud in Cova da Iria in the year 1917 (first apparition on May 13th, followed by 13th of each month until October, with the exception of one or another) has always interested me. It's one of the great tales of the 20th century.

The movie is okay but some of the "truths" are questionable, considering that the real Lúcia wasn't very fond of it because it isn't totally faithful to the real story. Besides, it's rather awkward to see such a remarkable Portuguese tale made as an English-language movie with foreign artists, although it was filmed in Portugal.

The kids selected to portray the 3 little shepherds are convincing in their performances. The wonderful effects and visuals make a perfect vision of what must have been like these fascinating events witnessed by the 3 shepherds.

Overall, not a bad movie but there was one which was better. I remember having seen a different one when I was 13 or 14 years old. It was a Portuguese-language film in black and white very loyal to the real story and I remember loving it at the time. Sadly I don't even know its title, its year, its artists's names, nothing.

The real miracle is that this horrid film didn't destroy Jack Warner's reputation

[originalthinkr-2 · 1/10 · 25 December 2013]

Covers the same basic ground as Fox's infinitely superior "The Song of Bernadette" (1944), but with none of that earlier film's subtlety, fine performances and music, or assurance of dramatic narrative. This is a clumsy, ham-handed attempt on the part of Warner Bros. to make the case to the public and Congress's House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) during the darkest days of McCarthyism and its anti- Communist witch-hunts, that Hollywood was, if not exactly a model of piety, at least not a den of Red subversives, and not a few of the religious extravaganzas of the 1950's were made with this goal in mind. Earning a profit at the box office or kudos from critics were not high on the studio's list of priorities for this claptrap -- it was propaganda, plain and simple.

In short, this is a dreadful film that does a grave disservice to its subject matter.

Love This Movie!

[StMi49531 · 10/10 · 22 February 2005]

This movie is fantastic. I would love to see it on DVD someday with some extra features. I'm fairly certain the woman playing Sr. Lucia at the end is the same lady who does the voice of Our Lady throughout the movie.

What is more interesting is that there are only 4 people left alive from the making of this movie--Angela Clark (Lucia's mother), and the three children. Sr. Lucia (the real one) just died on 2-13-05, and Angela Clark is just 5 years behind her. Interesting to note, but not worth much in the long run. I just thought it would be cool to point that out. Maybe they'll have a reunion of the last 4 main characters?

red scare film

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 31 March 2024]

It's 1910. Portugal's monarchy has been overthrown. The new socialist revolutionaries begin persecuting the church. It's 1917 in the mountain village of Fatima. Three child shepherds claim to see the Virgin Mary.

I have never considered the political backdrop of this incident and its times. That start is illuminating. It is interesting to inject villains into the story. The anti-socialist politics is a bit in your face although the red scare is really taking hold during this time. It's a very effective device to pit little children against the atheist government forces. This is trying for a minor epic. I'm not that familiar with these actors. It's good that they're going with more ethnic actors. The little girl is trying real hard. I would hate for a big name white actor to lead this with a brown-face performance. There are some footage that may even be authentic. It is an effective red scare film.

"Perhaps father had an accident, mama." .. "Every Saturday night he has an accident--a collision with the wine bottle!"

[moonspinner55 · 5/10 · 15 March 2024]

After seven years of political strife in 1910 Portugal--wherein clergymen became the target of a socialist regime and arrested--a new era dawns and people head back to the church. In this fragile setting, three children--whose pal is the local con-artist/thief/storyteller--claim to have a seen the holy vision of a woman floating above the "cova", who tells the oldest child she must come back every month for six months before the Lady will explain what she wants. Naturally, the story spreads throughout the village that the children have seen the Blessed Virgin, and the kids are branded as liars. Although a disclaimer tells us the film is fictitious, this event was indeed based upon a real incident (filmed previously in 1951 as the Spanish-language "La señora de Fátima"). It is a maddeningly simple-minded movie with manipulative undertones which, when combined with the artificial look of the picture, can put viewers on the defensive. On the other hand, when tender, tremulous Susan Whitney comes under fire and must endure the suffering from her squabbling elders, you might feel a little tug at your own heart. ** from ****

One of the great films...

[chavez_anthony · 6 January 2001]

A copy of this film was given to me as a gift. I would've never thought to have watched this, but all I can say after viewing this is WOW! This film is almost flawless. A great, spiritual story (and a true one), and all the actors are really good, especially the man who plays 'Hugo'. Seek this one out. You won't regret it.

Nobody does Catholic like Jack Warner.

[WarnersBrother · 8/10 · 27 March 2016]

I'm going to review this film on it's merits as to production only without religious comment, though a bit of politics will creep in.

By 1952 Warner Brothers were right upfront on the Red Baiting bandwagon since first being castigated for wartime propaganda films now deemed subversive by the HUAC and Joseph McCarthy. Warners paid a very heavy penance for "Mission To Moscow (1943)" a positively ludicrous pro-Soviet, pro-Stalin nightmare that the studio had made at the behest of no less than FDR himself. It is a travesty to say the least. So the political element in this film is given a decidedly Anti-communist vent not historically true to the events. The portrayal of one Portugese "Commissar" (no other word suffices) is so malevolent, threatening among other things to boil a child in oil, that you might not think that Oscar Homolka might have filled the part nicely. But he was busy enough being a commie ogre in other films.

Leaving that behind this is one of the best A pictures of the period with little spared. Not a lot of star power but a tightly directed and scripted reverent film. Regardless of one beliefs to watch this film without considering faith is to reveal a fine Motion Picture. I recommend it highly.

While the entire cast is excellent it is the always marvelous Gilbert Roland who, not unusually, steals the picture. The screen comes alive whenever "Amigo" is in the frame. He was larger than life and lasted from silents in the early '20's right up until the 80's...not without good reason!

Faith Encouraging

[MacGyver0099 · 10/10 · 28 June 2003]

This movie is conducive to one's faith. It serves as a reminder of why one chooses to practice Christianity. It also helps to encourage people to make good decisions in the face of adversity. I give this film a 10.

Great film as an example of...

[tles7 · 5/10 · 22 December 2018]

The stupidity of religion. Basically, the Virgin Mary comes down and tortures some innocent children in a retelling of an event that seems like a scene from a made for TV movie.

Outstanding, One of the Most Inspirational Religious Films Ever

[rkfree · 10/10 · 17 August 2006]

Overall this movie is outstanding. It is not perfect, but it is still one of the most inspirational religious films I have ever seen. I show it in my 2nd and 3rd grade catechism classes as an example of the dedication, courage and strength everyone (children and adults) should have, especially when being ridiculed and persecuted for their faith. A few of the special effects are below the standards of modern films, but you have to remember this film was produced in the early 1950's. For the most part the performances are very convincing and entertaining, especially Gilbert Roland as Hugo da Silva. The child actors are good most of the time (occasional overacting). Children and religious adults who are willing to overlook the problems with the effects will benefit from this film.

A beautiful, factual story filled with spirituality and hope

[thomas4fatima · 10/10 · 24 August 2006]

I viewed this film when I was 11 years of age. It left such an impression on me, that I have followed and tried to live this message throughout my life. I have been to Fatima several times and took two of my girls, both who met their spouses in this most holy place. Both men were on pilgrimage with two different groups in two different years; one from Ohio and the other from Texas. We live in Illinois. Needless to say, one cannot help but see the wonderful witness to faith shown through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima to honor her Son.

Our world is in great turmoil. Pope John Paul II said that the message of Fatima is more relevant today than ever. The Rosary and Scapular are the road to salvation and peace.

The Miracle Of Fatima

[mbrewer62 · 10/10 · 13 November 2013]

I have this DVD from the 50's. As a child of 10yrs, I watched it, and remember it very well. Then, in the 90's, I found this movie in a garage sale. It was the same movie I watched at 10. Now, I still have it and have watched it over and over again. Many times it brought tears to my eyes, watching what the children went through during the second world war. It was very Enlightening, Spiritual, Powerful, and TRUE! This was based on true events by both believer and non believers. Many would love this movie, and I believe that the 3 children are a real plus to making this movie what it is. I hope you enjoy it as much as myself. Mary Brewer

This film has affected my whole outlook on life. I'm now 72.

[robhulbert · 10/10 · 3 April 2017]

I am now 72 but I saw this film when I was 8 or 9. It impressed me so much that I love Our Lady and say her Rosary daily just as she requested. Jacinta, in the film after she died just as Our Lady said she would, was found to have an incorrupt face. The Catholic Church has beatified both Jacinta and Francisco. That is the first step before canonization. The two children died from the Spanish influenza epidemic only a few years after they saw Our Lady. Our Lady said that they would go to Heaven and they would die soon. Our Lady showed them a vision of Hell and when the children asked why they were going there, she said: "for sexual sins". Our Lady said: "Poor souls go to Hell because they have no one to pray for them or make sacrifices. The children from then on stripped to the waist and flogged themselves with nettles. I have been stung by a nettle and they are very painful. St. Teresa of Avila, stripped and rolled on a bed of nettles for penance or sacrifice.

Serves Its Purposes

[RonellSowes · 18 April 2022]

This isn't the sort of film that will appeal to everyone but to those it does it certainly means something. Objectively the filmmaking is fairly mediocre,but The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima an adequate adaptation of the story its retelling.

Plz read and understand

[js1801 · 16 August 2019]

The Father and the Son are the Parents of the Holy Spirit, if many churches are correct. The Trinity is a Family-- two Parents and an Offspring, if many churches are correct. In the Bible, our Lord Jesus Himself said, " I and the Father are One".--John 10:30 On the topic of marriage in general, according to the Bible Jesus said "they are no longer two but one..."-Matthew 19:6