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The Miracle Woman (Restored) [VHS]

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Predating "Elmer Gantry" (the film) by twenty years is this overlooked gem starring Barbara Stanwyck as a vindictive daughter of a minister. She begins the film with an intense diatribe against religious hypocrisy, but she eventually succumbs to the very corruption she originally railed against.
When she meets a charming blind man her eyes have finally opened up to her sins and "sees the light".
There's a scene that recalls the old "Golden Calf" episode from the Bible involving a party full of drunken carny people revelling at Sister Fallon's home.
Stanwyck's acting in this film is a real eye-opener. She alternates between powerful virtue and an understated sexuality that's subtle and very well done. David Manners' performance was so convincing. He did an unbelieveable job portraying a handicapped man.
TCM shows this film from time to time, but I'd like to see a DVD release so everyone can see what a great film this is.

Barbara Stanwyck as Sister "Faith" Fallon, charismatic leader of a Pentecostal sect. David Manners plays a blind man who falls in love with her after hearing a sermon which rouses hope in him; Frank Capra's unusually blunt attack on religious quackery previews familiar themes of individual moralism and the little guy going up against a crooked system. The baby-cheeked, 20-year-old Stanwyck is drop-dead gorgeous in scene after scene, and brings the house down -- literally -- in the beginning and closing scenes. Nice early exploration of Capra's populist ouvre, but mostly just a chance to admire Stanwyck's incandescence.

The opening scenes of The Miracle Woman are great, and seem as relevant today as they were controversial in 1931. Some of the lines were brilliant and intelligently true, but I guess some people would still consider it blasphemy the way Barbara really lashes out at those hypocrites in charge of her deceased father's church. Though the film lags in certain places, and seems improbable at times, it has a great many fine moments. The best of which are between Barbara and David Manners, who plays the blind man who falls in love with Sister Fallon. Some of the most moving scenes that Frank Capra has filmed. He sure knew how to make love scenes work. Although Miracle Woman lost money at the box office, I still believe that this and his The Bitter Tea Of General Yen deserve their place amongst Mr. Capra's best. I don't understand why these films were banned in Britain. For all it's so called irreverence, the film ends up being a safe story of one woman's journey towards redemption, and the Salvation Army in the end.

Barbara Stanwyck arrived in Hollywood in 1929 with then husband Frank Fay. She made 2 poor films and might have languished if Frank Capra had not cast her in "Ladies of Leisure" in 1930. Subsequently, they made 3 more films together in the next 2 years and each one is worth seeing.

"The Miracle Woman" starts with a striking scene in a House of Worship and Stanwyck bowls you over with her direct manner. The story involves corruption and evangelists and is a most unusual subject. David Manners plays Stanwyck's leading man and he is very good. The ending is a little weak as if the writer was unsure exactly how to resolve the plot. The production values are high by Columbia Studio standards but the film was not big box office with its unusual theme.

The film demonstrates, with "Ladies of Leisure" and "The Bitter Tea of General Yen", and even the soapy "Forbidden", that the Capra/Stanwyck combination was dynamite.

From the beginning to the end this is Stanwyck's film all the way! Very young (24 to be exact) she is incredible in every scene. Those not familiar with early Stanwyck should view this remarkable film to see her working her craft flawlessly. Why she wasn't nominated for an academy award for this performance is beyond me!! She was absolutely the best actress Hollywood has ever turned out...and she never even had an acting lesson! Truly brilliant performance as Florence Fallon, an evangelist based on the true Aimee Semple McPherson. Frank Capra was truly ahead of his time on this one. And David Manners is also incredible as the blind aviator who changes Stanwyck's life. He is truly an underrated talent. This film still packs a wallop over seventy years after the fact. Please release this gem on DVD soon!!

The Miracle Woman is the story of a preacher's daughter (Barbara Stanwyck) who wants the world to know the true meaning of God's love instead of living hypocritical lives. In the process, she becomes roped up with a seedy manager who turns her into a famous evangelist conning money out of believers. However, a blind man (David Manners) hears her sermon and decides against committing suicide. When he meets her, they fall in love.

This film is not a typical Frank Capra. Although it does deal with issues or right and wrong, good and bad, it does not have the same uplifting feeling toward the end. It is, though, a very good film. Stanwyck is young and beautiful in this early role. She has a great amount of chemistry with Manners who is believably blind throughout the film.

Although this is a pre-code film, it does not have all of the shock and scandal one might assume it'd contain. Still, it is a gem.

Barbara Stanwyck shines as the young daughter of a deceased minister who decides to take up where he left off, only to be sidetracked into heading a corrupt religious sect. Frank Capra's THE MIRACLE WOMAN was a thinly-veiled attack on Aimee Semple MacPherson, the well-known controversial figure of the 1930s whose evangelical rants are eerily echoed in Stanwyck's fever-pitched performance.

While it's now sadly regarded as one of his minor works, THE MIRACLE WOMAN (1931) gave Capra the chance to explore the strange, frenzied world of religious celebrity. Stanwyck shines and mesmerizes as Sister "Faith" Fallon, a woman seduced by the desire to become an evangelical leader, but redeemed by the unconditional love of a blind man (David Manners). Sam Hardy and Beryl Mercer co-star. Recommended.

Sister Florence Fallon (Stanwyck) becomes a popular evangelist, broadcasting her message daily to poor city dwellers from her Temple of Happiness. A young blind man (David Manners), who has failed as a song-writer is saved from committing suicide when her hears her cite the achievements of handicapped artists such as Beethoven and Milton. His spirits renewed, he decides to attend a revival meeting at the temple with his landlady.......... This 1931 feature was a well-directed slam at commercial evangelism with a personal sock at Aimee Semple McPherson and her Los Angeles tabernacle. Capra managed to create several original situations for the film, and the does well in this unusual and decidedly interesting movie. It's beautifully lighted and photographed and Barbara is mesmorizing in the lead as Florence "Faith" Fallon. An expensive film in it's day, every penny shows on the screen. Capra thought the picture was corny, but it holds up remarkably well; nearly 70 years later, there are evangelists using the exact same techniques, (except now they do it for millions of dollars a week on television!).

That's Barbara Stanwyck, very young & desirable in this 1931 forgotten little movie that I understand costs quite bit for its day. She's the daughter of a preacher who has just been fired & immediately dies. She gives the hypocrites in the congregation a firery sermon in his place. She leaves town, vowing vengence with a shady manager in tow. Soon she is famous & wealthy as Florence "Faith" Fallon an evagelist & healer. She has become what she had cursed the congregation for. She's knows she's a phony. But then she has a success of sorts. A young avaitor, (David Manners) blinded by the war, is despondent & on the verge of suicide. He hears her broadcast & doesn't follow through. He seeks her out & they develop a friendship. In a series of meetings, mostly in his apartment, they fall in love. Now more that ever she wants to gets out of the rotten business she is in. Her manager is not about to let his meal ticket get away. Then, there is a fire at the theater where she is to perform. Her manager doesn't get punished for his crimes, but remember this is pre-code. She & her young aviator are united. Tagged on to the end is the dubious hope he may see again. Nothing sexual that the code whould have objected to if it had existed. Stanwyck is innocent & stunning but fairly modest. Frank Capra did use his freedom to rail against religion & its hypocrisy. A little known gem you should seek out.