A 1952 American Drama directed by John Brahm based on true events in 1917 as three
children share a vision of the Virgin Mary.
The movie stars Gilbert Roland, Angela Clarke, Frank Silvera, Jay Novello, Richard Hale, Francis Morris, Susan Whitney, Sherry Jackson and Sammy Ogg.
It was released August 20, 1952.
Tropes for the film:
- Background Music: Max Steiner outdid himself, researching and incorporating appropriate Catholic hymns and inventing rich, operatic Leitmotifs and themes. Here's an analysis of Steiner's score for Our Lady of Fatima by Craig Lysy.
- Invisible to Adults: Francisco and Jacinta's parents believe the children, and their father gives Lucia's mother a vehement talking-to: "They saw the lady. The priest did not. I believe what they tell me."
- Fantasy-Forbidding Mother: Lucia's mother thinks she's lying for attention. Fr. Ferreira believes her, but cautions it could be a trick from Satan, so her mother forbids her to go to the Cova. She relents later when she sees Lucia rushed and almost trampled by an overly-devout crowd.
- Patron Saint: The plot is about Mary's visitations in Portugal to Lucia Santos and her cousins, now St. Francisco and Waif Prophet St. Jacinta Marto. Canonized on May 13, 2017, they are the youngest saints other than some of the early Christian martyrs.
- Period Piece: Most of the film takes place in 1917.
- Please, Don't Leave Me: The movie has this - based on what Lucia Santos said was an actual conversation with the lady from heaven" - as Lucia realizes the lady means to take her little cousins "to heaven" long before herself:Lucia: You're going to take them? You mean they're going to—
The Lady: Have no fear for them!
Lucia: But why must they go, why? What will I do without them? Please, dear lady, don't you see - we've been together since we were babies! They're like my sister and brother. I took care of Jacinta when she was just a little thing. Besides my mother, I love them more than anyone in the world... Forgive me, my lady. I'll do anything Let me suffer for them, and I'll be glad. But don't take them. Don't leave me here alone.
The Lady: Dear child, I'll be with you always... I will never abandon you. My immaculate heart will be your refuge and the path that leads you to God. note - Source Music: As Lucia and her family leave church at the beginning, the organ is heard; the children in the St. Anthony's Feast scene sing Schubert's version of "Salve Regina", and after the third visitation Lucia sings a traditional version of "Regina Coeli" and is joined by the crowd behind her.
- Taking the Veil: Lucia Santos has become a nun in the very last scene, where the basilica commemorating her and her cousins' 1917 visions of the Blessed Virgin is opened. The real Lucia did go to a convent school at 13, run by the Dorothean sisters, and later joined their convent; by the time the basilica opened she was 46 and in the enclosed Carmelite order, although she was present at the festival.
