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This film works much better for its battle of wills between a parish priest and a head nun than the dopey musical interludes that pepper it, but Bells is still a winning, emotionally satisfying film. This sequel to Going My Way has Father O'Malley (Bing Crosby) taking over the St. Mary's parochial school and finding himself at loggerheads with Sister Benedict (Ingrid Bergman, looking gorgeous even in a habit). There's a wonderful balance to all of this: O'Malley takes a more worldly approach to administration and is wrong just as many times as the nun is when she insists on a more biblical approach. About four subplots suffuse the film, including the story of a young charge from the wrong side of the tracks, and the deteriorating state of St. Mary's in the shadow of a brand-new building (the owner is played by the avuncular Henry Travers). A dear film. --Keith Simanton
Amazon.com Essential Video
After watching director Leo McCarey's 1945, black-and-white ode to sentimentality, it's intriguing to note how everything old becomes new again. As evidenced by 1998 box-office fare such as Stepmom and One True Thing, the "disease of the week" mentality has been tugging at filmgoers' hearts for decades. The Bells of St. Mary's is the "sequel" to McCarey's Oscar-winning Going My Way, for which star Bing Crosby incredulously took home a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the paternal priest, Father O'Malley. But in The Bells of St. Mary's, Crosby's undernourished, laconic technique barely registers against the luminous, playful gravity of Ingrid Bergman, who embodies the heart of a faith-abiding but forward-thinking nun named Sister Benedict. O'Malley is transferred to her poverty-stricken school, and the two square off, ultimately forming a respect and liking for each other despite the fact that the good Sister has taken ill with tuberculosis and Father O'Malley must send her away from her beloved parish to save her life. Sure, The Bells of St. Mary's feels outdated and even trivial in light of the successors to its throne, but it's still a contender. McCarey had the touch for striking a chord that hearkens back to everything we didn't get as kids. He fills a need, as it were, with his ability to reveal our human frailties. Too, he's got Ingrid Bergman, who makes us fondly remember every teacher who lovingly and patiently made a difference in our lives. The Bells of St. Mary's recalls better days and romanticizes a gentler way of being, as suggested when Sister Benedict, after overhearing Father O'Malley remark that sometimes a man must fight his way through life, offers simply in response, "Why not make him think his way through instead?" --Paula Nechak
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
ring-a-ding-ding,
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This review is from: The Bells of St. Mary's (DVD)
Wonderful movie. No sex, no violence, no fear. I have watched this movie for years and enjoy it every time I see it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
bells of St. Mary's dvd,
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This review is from: The Bells of St. Mary's (DVD)
arrived faster than expected. the quality is excellent. Great contrast and sharpness. Just like the one I discovered in my collection. I have so many movies on DVD and VHS that I don't know what I have anymore. That's what you get when you don't catalogue them. But when you're 74 years old and retarded like I am who's got the time to do this? I'll leave it for my kids to figure it out. But it's a great movie worth having and two copies guarantees they will last forever. Very happy with the product and the service.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sweet movie,
By just a little bookworm (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Bells of St. Mary's (DVD)
This is a really sweet film that I have always loved. It is not very fast-paced as movies go, and the whole sub-plot relationship with the one student's parents just deciding everything's great and to get back together - is not very believable. However, the rest of the movie is wonderfully acted and scripted. Bergman's character is so realistic; she comes across as a strict and unbending nun, but is really full of contradictions, and teaches a boy how to box so he can defend himself ont he playground. And even though there is no romanctic love between the two main characters, they show some of the realest love ever to grace tv sets. If you're up to an old-fashioned, sweet tale, with a few songs from Crosby and a couple of his signature grins, this one is sure to make you smile.
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