Bright Victory

“Bright Victory tackles a difficult problem and makes it absorbing and moving.” – Associated Press

Released in 1951, the movie ‘Bright Victory’ is based off the 1945 novel called “Lights Out,” which is about a WW2 soldier who is wounded in battle and lands in a military hospital, which is based around the Valley Forge General Hospital in Phoenixville. He is blinded by his wounds and becomes friends with another soldier there who is African American. Sgt. Nevins doesn’t realize his friends race and tends to use casual racism in front of him and gradually learns a lesson in equality. Many scenes are filmed in Phoenixville and Kimberton and those local connections and scenes will be discussed along with a brief history of the hospital.

Film Synopsis: 
Unable to see after he’s hurt on the battlefield, Sgt. Larry Nevins (Arthur Kennedy) lands in a military hospital with African-American soldier Joe Morgan (James Edwards) and attending nurse Judy Greene (Peggy Dow). Though he’s engaged to a girl in America, Larry finds himself falling for Judy. Meanwhile, his casual racism damages his friendship with Joe. But, when he heads back to the U.S., Larry realizes how much he cares for Judy — and how wrong he was to judge others by their race.