I've seen this movie many times, and it still holds up beautifully for a decades old film. The music, direction, photography are top-notch. Best of all are the magical performances of all the players: Arthur Kennedy is heart-wrenching as the blinded soldier, John Hudson as a helpful rehab captain, Will Geer and Nana Bryant are warm and wonderful as Kennedy's parents, Julie Adams is appealing as Kennedy's girlfriend back home, Jim Backus and Joan Banks as friends. And lastly, the amazingly talented Peggy Dow portrays Kennedy's guide to emotional recovery with sympathetic and graceful conviction. Smaller roles feature eventual bigger names: Richard Egan, Murray Hamilton, Bernie Hamilton, and Rock Hudson. A scene with Kennedy, awaiting a decision from Adams, sitting nervously in the dark toggling a lamp switch predates "Fatal Attraction" (1987). *Updated 10/16/2016* - My favorite part of the film is the large subplot of Kennedy's developing friendship with another blinded soldier, a black man (superbly portrayed by James Edwards). Neither one knows the others skin color, until the truth comes out and Kennedy severs it. Kennedy soon comes around, realizing his parents were taught racial prejudice, as did theirs. Last scene is beautiful. This still resonates today. But we've come so far, with a (half) black President of the United States.
Review of Bright Victory
