1931·Drama·1h 30m
7.1
★
After an unappreciated minister dies, his daughter loses her faith in God, prompting her to open a phony temple with a con man. Can the love of a blind former aviator restore her faith and happiness?
Directed by Frank Capra
blackmail
con man
fraud
religious hypocrisy
pre-code
landlady
declaration of love
evangelist
moral transformation
conflagration
faith healer
ventriloquist's dummy
ventriloquism
blind man
memorization
coming clean
saviour
building on fire
fake miracle
landlady tenant relationship
angry sermon
revival meeting
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Barbara Stanwyck
Florence Fallon
David Manners
John Carson
Sam Hardy
Bob Hornsby
Beryl Mercer
Mrs. Higgins
Russell Hopton
Bill Welford
Charles Middleton
Simpson
Eddie Boland
Collins
Thelma Hill
Gussie
Jessie Arnold
Supportive Parishioner (uncredited)
Robert Bolder
Man in Audience (uncredited)
Aileen Carlyle
Violet (uncredited)
Mary Doran
Party Guest (uncredited)
Crew
Frank Capra
Director
Jo Swerling
Screenplay
Robert Riskin
Screenplay
Frank Capra
Producer
Harry Cohn
Producer
Robert Riskin
Theatre Play
John Meehan
Theatre Play
Popular Reviews
21 reviews
Andrew Warren
7.0★ · 02/08/26
52 Weeks, 52 Religious Films
Based on the real story of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, The Miracle Woman is a pre-code religious film that follows Florence Fallon (Barbara Stanwyck), who loses belief in God after the death of her father, who was a minister. She finds religion to be a way to gain money and power, and opens up a phony temple with a con man she falls in love with.
Director Frank Capra himself was a Catholic, and the film opens up with a warning that this film is depicting the evil of people, rather than religion. And that’s exactly what this film portrays. It’s not saying Christianity is phony, rather evil people use it for self-gain and unfortunately people are blind to see it as so. We see this too much in modern Christian nationalism and it makes me sick.
Barbara Stanwyck is really what makes this film as iconic as it is. A fun fact I learned was that Frank Capra had a huge crush on Stanwyck and decided to cast her in this film for that very reason (I don’t blame you, Mr. Capra). Speaking of Capra, he showcases a lot of directing sauce here with so many great camera movements and shot compositions. Shots that seem rather rare for 1931, making this film an interesting historical piece in the history of cinema.
Also another fun little tidbit about this film; it being a pre-code film, I think this is the earliest showcase I’ve seen of someone flipping the bird on the silver screen. They could show that somehow, and doing research, the earliest case I could find is in Harold Lloyd’s 1928 silent film Speedy. And a fun fact since I’m a huge baseball fan and knew of this fact, the first photograph of someone flipping the bird was from Boston Beaneaters pitcher Old Hoss Radbourn in 1886. He had 59 wins in 1884 with the Providence Grays by the way. An absolute stud on the mound. He’s such an interesting story and if you want to learn more about him, I’d recommend this video.
Based on the real story of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, The Miracle Woman is a pre-code religious film that follows Florence Fallon (Barbara Stanwyck), who loses belief in God after the death of her father, who was a minister. She finds religion to be a way to gain money and power, and opens up a phony temple with a con man she falls in love with.
Director Frank Capra himself was a Catholic, and the film opens up with a warning that this film is depicting the evil of people, rather than religion. And that’s exactly what this film portrays. It’s not saying Christianity is phony, rather evil people use it for self-gain and unfortunately people are blind to see it as so. We see this too much in modern Christian nationalism and it makes me sick.
Barbara Stanwyck is really what makes this film as iconic as it is. A fun fact I learned was that Frank Capra had a huge crush on Stanwyck and decided to cast her in this film for that very reason (I don’t blame you, Mr. Capra). Speaking of Capra, he showcases a lot of directing sauce here with so many great camera movements and shot compositions. Shots that seem rather rare for 1931, making this film an interesting historical piece in the history of cinema.
Also another fun little tidbit about this film; it being a pre-code film, I think this is the earliest showcase I’ve seen of someone flipping the bird on the silver screen. They could show that somehow, and doing research, the earliest case I could find is in Harold Lloyd’s 1928 silent film Speedy. And a fun fact since I’m a huge baseball fan and knew of this fact, the first photograph of someone flipping the bird was from Boston Beaneaters pitcher Old Hoss Radbourn in 1886. He had 59 wins in 1884 with the Providence Grays by the way. An absolute stud on the mound. He’s such an interesting story and if you want to learn more about him, I’d recommend this video.
52 Weeks, 52 Religious Films
Based on the real story of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, The Miracle Woman is a pre-code religious film that follows Florence Fallon (Barbara Stanwyck), who loses belief in God after the death of her father, who was a minister. She finds religion to be a way to gain money and power, and opens up a phony temple with a con man she falls in love with.
Director Frank Capra himself was a Catholic, and the film opens up with a warning that this film is depicting the evil of people, rather than religion. And that’s exactly what this film portrays. It’s not saying Christianity is phony, rather evil people use it for self-gain and unfortunately people are blind to see it as so. We see this too much in modern Christian nationalism and it makes me sick.
Barbara Stanwyck is really what makes this film as iconic as it is. A fun fact I learned was that Frank Capra had a huge crush on Stanwyck and decided to cast her in this film for that very reason (I don’t blame you, Mr. Capra). Speaking of Capra, he showcases a lot of directing sauce here with so many great camera movements and shot compositions. Shots that seem rather rare for 1931, making this film an interesting historical piece in the history of cinema.
Also another fun little tidbit about this film; it being a pre-code film, I think this is the earliest showcase I’ve seen of someone flipping the bird on the silver screen. They could show that somehow, and doing research, the earliest case I could find is in Harold Lloyd’s 1928 silent film Speedy. And a fun fact since I’m a huge baseball fan and knew of this fact, the first photograph of someone flipping the bird was from Boston Beaneaters pitcher Old Hoss Radbourn in 1886. He had 59 wins in 1884 with the Providence Grays by the way. An absolute stud on the mound. He’s such an interesting story and if you want to learn more about him, I’d recommend this video.
Based on the real story of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, The Miracle Woman is a pre-code religious film that follows Florence Fallon (Barbara Stanwyck), who loses belief in God after the death of her father, who was a minister. She finds religion to be a way to gain money and power, and opens up a phony temple with a con man she falls in love with.
Director Frank Capra himself was a Catholic, and the film opens up with a warning that this film is depicting the evil of people, rather than religion. And that’s exactly what this film portrays. It’s not saying Christianity is phony, rather evil people use it for self-gain and unfortunately people are blind to see it as so. We see this too much in modern Christian nationalism and it makes me sick.
Barbara Stanwyck is really what makes this film as iconic as it is. A fun fact I learned was that Frank Capra had a huge crush on Stanwyck and decided to cast her in this film for that very reason (I don’t blame you, Mr. Capra). Speaking of Capra, he showcases a lot of directing sauce here with so many great camera movements and shot compositions. Shots that seem rather rare for 1931, making this film an interesting historical piece in the history of cinema.
Also another fun little tidbit about this film; it being a pre-code film, I think this is the earliest showcase I’ve seen of someone flipping the bird on the silver screen. They could show that somehow, and doing research, the earliest case I could find is in Harold Lloyd’s 1928 silent film Speedy. And a fun fact since I’m a huge baseball fan and knew of this fact, the first photograph of someone flipping the bird was from Boston Beaneaters pitcher Old Hoss Radbourn in 1886. He had 59 wins in 1884 with the Providence Grays by the way. An absolute stud on the mound. He’s such an interesting story and if you want to learn more about him, I’d recommend this video.
3
nPRO
6.0★ · 01/04/26
not even barbara stanwyck could make me want to become religious
not even barbara stanwyck could make me want to become religious
1
Mona
10.0★ · 12/04/25
this is fire (literally)
this is fire (literally)
ChaiclassicsPRO
8.0★ · 08/08/25
Is there anything this woman cannot do???
Is there anything this woman cannot do???
Poo
8.0★ · 08/08/25
Worshipping at the church of Stanwyck. 🙏
Worshipping at the church of Stanwyck. 🙏