The striking poster image of Bernadette was created by famous artist Norman Rockwell.
The Imperial Prosecutor Vital Dutour (Vincent Price) who investigates Bernadette's visions, is portrayed in the movie as an atheist and anti-religious persecutor. In real life, however, Dutour was a devout Catholic who thought that Bernadette Soubirous' visions were hallucinations.
There is a scene in which Mayor Lacade dreams that Lourdes will one day be flooded with so many people that more hotels will be needed. Lourdes has more hotels per square kilometer than anywhere else in France except for Paris. It is also the third most important site of international Catholic pilgrimage after Rome and the Holy Land.
Using an actress to play the Virgin Mary was controversial enough, and further contention arose after Loretta Young was passed over in favor of sultry Linda Darnell. At that time, Darnell had a reputation as a party girl. Franz Werfel, the author of the book on which the film was based, threatened to remove his name from the project. To make matters worse, Darnell was pregnant. Nothing would change Darryl F. Zanuck's mind, and Werfel was told that an unknown actress was chosen. Wearing a little more drapery than the simple dress and veil described by the historical Bernadette, Darnell played the role in bright light.