CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Tyreece Hulme One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Cristal The movie really just wants to entertain people.

vincentlynch-moonoi It is not often that I am impressed by early-talkies. This film was made only 2 years after Barbara Stanwyck's first credited role in a talkie. And, it was directed by Frank Capra, and was quite ambitious.The plot involves "Florence Fallon" (Stanwyck), who goes on a rant in church when her old minister father is fired after many years of service to a Protestant church. Her rant impresses con man who leads her into becoming a phony faith healer who begins to rake in thousands of dollars. She builds up a widespread following through her miracles and radio broadcasts. But then she meets a blind man with whom she falls in love, and during a massive church fire the sham vanishes and Fallon joins the Salvation Army.Often, movies at this time had holes in their scripts. While there are times that this film needs a slightly faster pace, and there are themes could be expanded on a bit, and there is a need for more background music...well, that's the early 1930s. But there are no holes in this script, and in fact it's thought out rather well. There certainly are some parallels here with the life of Aimee Semple Mcpherson, however, this film is hardly biographical (where's Milton Berle? -- look that one up! :-) ).This film will keep your attention despite being quite old-fashioned; and while it is old-fashioned, I would have to say it was ahead of its time. Recommended.

wes-connors "Beware of false prophets which will come to you in sheep's clothing… 'The Miracle Woman' is offered as a rebuke to anyone who, under the cloak of Religion, seeks to sell for gold, God's choicest gift to humanity - FAITH," introduces this grand collaboration between director Frank Capra and Barbara Stanwyck (as Florence "Faith" Fallon). A pastor's daughter, Ms. Stanwyck opens the drama by taking her recently deceased father's congregation to task for causing his death. Among the worshipers is sleazy Sam Hardy (as Bob Hornsby). Impressed by Stanwyck's Biblical knowledge and preaching skills, Mr. Hardy offers to become her manager...Stanwyck hears Hardy pontificate, "Religion is like everything else - great if you can sell it, no good if you can give it away." She becomes a successful Christian evangelist, delivering fiery sermons to her tabernacle flock and hosting a successful radio show. The money rolls in, but sister Stanwyck is filled with isolation and guilt. Meanwhile, suicidal songwriter David Manners (as John Carson) decides not to jump out of his window when he hears Stanwyck on the radio. Also a blind ventriloquist, Mr. Manners endeavors to meet Stanwyck. She mistakes him for one of her shills, and predicts God will cure his blindness. Eventually, he heals hers...This should have been Stanwyck's first "Best Actress" notice. The "Academy Awards" were later kind, and the "New York Film Critics" joined them in recognizing her work in "Double Indemnity" (1944). However, in hindsight, "The Miracle Woman" is undeniably award-worthy. Also notable is fine work from Mr. Capra, who worked wonders with Stanwyck and co-star Manners, perfectly cast as the blind ventriloquist, along with skilled photography by Joseph Walker, and obviously strong supporting roles. The film feels like a Bob Dylan or Pete Seeger song come to life; like those, the story fascinates with a timeless relevance.********* The Miracle Woman (7/20/31) Frank Capra ~ Barbara Stanwyck, David Manners, Sam Hardy, Beryl Mercer

Robert J. Maxwell This isn't bad, a kind of re-telling of the story of Amee Semple McPherson and her Four Square Gospel, a popular religious movement during the 20s. She'd be a television celebrity today. McPherson, I think, disappeared mysteriously and some time later showed up without any adequate explanation for her absence. It was widely thought that she'd been shacked up with a married boyfriend someplace, maybe on the Monterey Peninsula. Charges were brought. The scandal that followed was scandalous.Barbara Stanwyck plays a similar character in this early 30s production. Her religious beliefs are genuine and intense, and she empties a church while defending her father's integrity, shouting that the congregation is hypocritical. A perfectly pragmatic bad guy, Hardy, latches onto Stanwyck's emotional impact and talks her into organizing a kind of religious traveling circus, complete with shills in the audience and phony faith cures. His argument is simplicity itself, a spun-out version of Kant's hypothetical imperative. Sure, we're all hypocrites. So why not be a hypocrite that makes money out of that hypocrisy? Still bitter, she agrees, and the show is a great success. Enter David Manners, a blind ex aviator from World War I. (Kids: that was 1917-1918.) Distraught and hopeless, he's about to jump out of a window when he hears one of her radio broadcasts and undergoes some kind of Road-to-Damascus number.They meet. They fall in love. Everything looks rosy except that Stanwyck is now beginning to feel some guilt over her phoniness. She wants out of it but Hardy has arranged things in such a way that she's trapped in her role as fake preacher. There's humiliation, disgrace. But the director, honing his skills for such later successes as "It's A Wonderful Life" and "Mister Smith Goes to Washington", let's everybody off easy.I've never found Barbara Stanwyck as compelling an actress as some others have but she puts a lot into this role. She looks vulnerable. She would hit a neat peak in her career with "Double Indemnity", partly because of that tight sweater, that golden anklet, and that outlandish blond wig. She should have probably retired earlier than she did because the image she left with too many people is that of the hard-faced dominatrix of some revoltingly rich family of ranchers.But the script isn't bad. The blind pilot is something of a bore, but Sam Hardy as the corrupt manager has an admirably complex role and does well by it. Too bad the movie has lost so much of its historical resonance. Who remembers Aimee Semple McPherson today? Everyone did in 1931.

thekris1 Does anyone know if the script of "Miracle Woman" is available in any form? There are some fine speeches in there that I'd like to use in teaching acting classes. It's not easy to find monologues for interesting, strong female characters these days. I'd really appreciate any leads. I'd hate to hate to resort to taping the film and transcribing it by hand (if it's even available to rent!). Just in case-- does anyone know if this film is available for rental, in any format? I haven't seen the entire movie. Please reply directly to thekris1@msn.com Thanks for any info you can provide. Note: this request would have taken just 3 lines, but the format requires a minimum 10 lines of text. I wouldn't normally go on and on!