Bright Victory (1951)

Set during WWII, an army Sergeant (Arthur Kennedy in an Oscar nominated performance) is blinded by a German sniper and lands in a military hospital where he begins a long and painful road to recovery. Based on the novel LIGHTS OUT by Baynard Kendrick and directed by Mark Robson (VALLEY OF THE DOLLS). Much admired in its day (Kennedy won the New York Film Critics award for best actor), today it resembles a well intentioned TV movie of the week. This situation was better done in THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES with Harold Russell as the disabled veteran trying to adjust to a post military life. The most interesting aspect of the movie is Kennedy's racism and how his blindness helps him overcome the bigotry he was taught as a child. I also appreciated the fairness in which Kennedy's fiancee (Julie Adams) was portrayed. She's unable to deal with his blindness but the film doesn't make her a "bad" person for being honest. With Peggy Dow, Rock Hudson, Richard Egan, Murray Hamilton, Jim Backus and James Edwards.