Bright Victory (1951) is an American drama directed by Mark Robson, starring Arthur Kennedy and Peggy Dow. The supporting cast includes Julia (Julie) Adams, James Edwards, Will Geer, Nana Bryant, Jim Backus, Richard Egan, and Murray Hamilton, and a young actor named Rock Hudson.
Larry Nevins (Arthur Kennedy) is blinded in North Africa
during World War II. He is taken to a hospital in Pennsylvania with other
blinded soldiers. At the hospital he learns to deal with his disability and how
to interact with the other blind patients.
Going home to visit his parents and fiancée, Larry is
confronted with the difficulties he will encounter once he’s discharged
from the hospital.
While at the hospital, Larry meets Judy Green, a bank teller
who volunteers by socializing with the soldiers, where they strike up an easy
friendship. Larry is guarded about their relationship due to his engagement to
Chris Paterson (Julie Adams).
What does the future hold for Larry?
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| Peggy Dow and Arthury Kennedy |
Mark Robson (1913 – 1978) was a Canadian-American director, producer, and editor. Robson began his career as a film editor, working on such classic films as Citizen Kane (1941) and The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) as Robert Wise’s assistant. He was eventually promoted to the head film editor of The Falcon’s Brother (1942). Some of Robson’s films as a director include My Foolish Heart (1949), The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1955), Peyton Place (1957), The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958), From the Terrace (1960), Von Ryan’s Express (1965), Valley of the Dolls (1967), and Earthquake (1974).
Arthur Kennedy (1914 – 1990) was an American film and
stage actor. Kennedy had many supporting roles in a variety of film genres. He
won the 1949 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Arthur Miller’s Death
of a Salesman. He was a five-time Academy Award nominee including a Best
Actor nod for his performance as a blind WWII veteran in Bright Victory
(1951). Kennedy had roles in High Sierra (1941), The Glass Menagerie
(1950), Peyton Place (1957), Elmer Gantry (1960), and Lawrence
Arabia (1962).
Peggy Dow (1928 - ) is an American philanthropist and
former actress whose career in Hollywood was fairly brief (1949 – 1952). While
under contract to Universal Studios, Dow appeared in several classic films from
Hollywood’s Golden Age. She is probably best known for her role as Nurse Kelly
in Harvey (1950) and as Judy
Greene in Bright Victory (1951). Dow graduated from Northwestern
University in 1948.
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| Peggy Dow, Richard Egan, James Edwards, Arthur Kennedy |
Bright Victory trivia
- Ten blind WWII veterans at the hospital appeared as extras.
- Arthur Kennedy wore black contact lenses for the role.
- Jim Backus is wearing a nautical cap in his first scene in the movie, foreshadowing his role in Gilligan’s Island.
- The hospital in the film, Valley Forge General Hospital in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, opened in 1943 and was one of the largest military hospitals in the United States. It was closed in 1973 and became the site of Valley Forge Christian College, renamed the University of Valley Forge in 2014.
- Phoenixville is home to another famous movie location: The diner from The Blob (1958).
Click HERE to watch the film on the Internet Archive
Click HERE to join the online discussion on March 24, 2025,
at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an email with a link
to the discussion on Zoom.
Discussion questions
- This movie deals with the rehabilitation of disabled veterans—veterans who were blinded during battle in WWII. How does this film compare with other films covering similar ground like The Best Years of Our Lives (1946).
- Arthur Kennedy’s performance earned him a nomination for Best Actor. Did you think it was well-earned?
- Was the relationship between Larry (Kennedy) and Judy (Dow) believable? Do you think they had good on-screen chemistry?
- The supporting cast is strong. Was there one performance that resonated with you?
- Was there anything in the film that surprised you?
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