The Bells of St. Mary's

Rating:
Summary: ESSENTIAL in ANY collection
Review: The first time I saw Leo McCarey's THE BELLS OF ST MARY'S was on Christmas Day of 2002 when it aired on TCM. I was blown away from the moment the Main Title rolled across the screen. I've always been a sucker for sentimental movies of the 40s (like MGM's MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME, both Judy Garland vehicles... btw, both have recently received beautiful DVD transfers; check them out), and ST MARY'S fits the bill to the "t". I picked up a copy of the DVD this past holiday season. I've seen the movie complete a number of times and never tire of watching it. This is the epitome of 40's motion picture entertainment.

An excellent cast turn in very praiseworthy performances. Bing Crosby is Father O'Malley. Crosby is the only actor ever to have been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar twice for the same role, having also played Father O'Malley in GOING MY WAY the previous year. Ingrid Bergman plays Sister Benedict, the Sister Superior of St. Mary's. Mr. Bogardus is played by Henry Travers... more famliarly known as Clarence from IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

The film earned eight Oscar nominations and won for Best Sound Recording.
Nominated for...
Best Actor (Crosby)
Best Acress (Bergman)
Direction (Leo McCarey)
Editing
Score of a dramatic/comedy picture (Robert Emmett Dolan)
Song (Aren't You Glad You're You)
Sound Recording
Best Picture

It's a shame ST MARY'S didn't walk away with more Oscars, this truly is a beautiful film and is necessary in any collection. Good for watching anytime, especailly when your spirit needs a lift.

The DVD transfer is outstanding. Picture is stable and clear throughout. Sound is crisp, with little distortion whatsoever. There is a theatrical trailer included, but no other extras. My only complaint about the DVD transfer... what is up with the gray bar at the bottom of the screen that appears at about the 2nd or 3rd page of the Main Title? It looks like it was digitally superimposed over the film to cover something up, but what and why?

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED in any collection. A classic.

Rating:
Summary: Good Sequel To Going My Way
Review: The movie is enjoyable but slow moving in parts. Ingrid
Bergman and Joan Carroll stand out in their parts.

I wish that I had a nun like Sister Benedict. All of the
nuns I had in elementary school were rotten!

Rating:
Summary: Simply Not "Going My Way"
Review: There's wisdom in the old saying, "All things in moderation," though it's not, perhaps, an axiom that should be applied to filmmaking. the success of a movie-- any movie-- depends upon that spark of life the director, the actors or the combination of the two can bring to it. The magic they can make. "The Bells of St. Mary's," directed by Leo McCarey is a prime example; a film that seemingly has all of the elements for success, and while it's a decent movie with some heart in the story, the presentation lacks that spark that would have made it truly memorable. It's like wanting to settle in on a cold winter's night with a good, steaming cup of hot chocolate; if the chocolate's only warm-- tepid at best-- you're left with a promise of what could have been, unfulfilled.

The story is fairly uncomplicated: St. Mary's school is in trouble; it's old and facing condemnation, and they haven't the money nor the resources to fix it. There is, however, a new building being constructed on land adjacent to that of St. Mary's, a building that would be perfect for a new school. And it's the hope of Sister Benedict (Ingrid Bergman), the nun who runs the school, that by some miracle Mr. Horace P. Bogardus (Henry Travers), owner of the new building, will see fit to donate it to St. Mary's. Toward that end, she has been praying fervently. She has not, however, contacted Mr. Bogardus, who happens to want St. Mary's so that he can raze the school and put in a parking lot. Enter Father Chuck O'Malley (Bing Crosby), who has been sent to St. Mary's to weigh the situation and ascertain whether or not it is feasible to keep the school afloat (a fact he does not share with Sister Benedict). As it is, once he sees the condition of the school itself, it's going to be a tough sell to keep it open. It just may take that miracle Sister Benedict is praying for.

A sequel to the Oscar winner for Best Picture of 1944, "Going My Way," (for which Crosby earned the Oscar for Best Actor; McCarey for Director, as well as writer for Original Story), this one was greeted with some extremely high expectations. And while McCarey was obviously trying his best to recapture that same spirit that made the first one so engaging, he never quite seems to be able to ignite that same spark. For one thing, he doesn't have Barry Fitzgerald this time around. Ingrid Bergman takes on the role of Father O'Malley's sparring partner-- which is another part of the problem. Their conflict is simply not that pronounced, coming down to a slightly different philosophy as to how to run the school and how strict the guidelines should be for the students. It just seems rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things; if even half the problems we face in life were thus, we would call this place in which we live Paradise.

There's a touch of melodrama to the story, but mostly it's just mellow drama. Even at it's darkest point, the situation at St. Mary's still seems comparatively like a lazy day at the park. And it's the result of McCarey's moderation-in-all-things approach. He tries to convey how bad the situation is without wanting to make it "too" bad. The only real spunk in the film comes during a scene in which Sister Benedict gives a boxing lesson to a student named Eddie (Richard Tyler), who turns out to have a mean right hook in him. There's also a scene near the beginning in which Father O'Malley introduces himself to the nuns that is mildly amusing. Other than these, the magic lays fairly dormant throughout.

Crosby picks up the character of Father O'Malley without missing a beat, but in doing so he gives new definition to the phrase, "Laid back." A real pipe-and-slipper part, Bing makes the good Father believable, but so easy going that his main purpose seems to be facilitating the progress of the story. He does manage to work in a couple of songs (Aren't You Glad You're You" and "The Bells of St. Mary's"), but his easy manner and McCarey's diluted approach to the material make this a less than absorbing experience.

Ingrid Bergman does a good job of bringing Sister Benedict to life (did she ever give a "bad" performance in anything?), but she has a hard time breaking free of the stereotypical mold of the nun in which McCarey seems bent on placing her, especially when attempting to exploit her natural beauty by setting her up in a number of "frieze" type shots, seemingly meant to establish her purity in all things. Not a bad ploy, perhaps, but less than effective; consider, for example, how much more of an impact Lilia Skala's nun in "Lilies of the Field" had. Still, capturing Bergman's classic beauty in these shots does provide for some reflective moments, even if it compromises the drama somewhat. Depth of character, it seems, was not what McCarey was striving for here, and unfortunately his methods give something of a superficial sheen to the film.

The supporting cast includes William Gargan (Patsy's Father), Martha Sleeper (Mrs. Gallagher), Joan Carroll (Patsy), Ruth Donnelly (Sister Michael), Rhys Williams (Dr. McKay) and the always delightful Una O'Connor (Mrs. Breen). A pleasant enough movie, but less than involving, "The Bells of St. Mary's" will be a satisfying experience for those of moderate tastes, but for those seeking the kind of drama to which they can really connect, it will be less than fulfilling. Overall, coming on the heels of "Going My Way" and with stars like Crosby and Bergman on hand, it makes a promise to which it never quite lives up.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Is "Going My Way"
Review: This is a fantastic film and probably one of the best sequels ever! Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman and Henry Travers are all magnificent and so are the supporting actors, definitely a top notch film with top notch actors, directors, producers etc! I added this classic to my collection and I have never regretted it and I definitely recommend it to other film buffs!

Rating:
Summary: Bing's Tones, Ingrid's Charms,Remastered on DVD....Heavenly!
Review: This review refers to the Silver Screen Classics Edition(Republic Pictures)DVD.......

A beautiful sequel to "Going My Way", is now a beautifully transfered to DVD. "The Bells of St.Mary's" is funny, poignant and will tug at your heartstrings.Father O'Malley(Bing Crosby) has now been assigned to a parochial school that is in dire need of repairs. The school has no money and O'Malley's job is to assess the possibilites, of perhaps sending the children to another school.He meets with some tough oppostion though, in the form of one Sister Benedict(Ingrid Bergman). She is the no nonsense type,and right away the two have some very different ideas on what's good for the kids.There is also the problem of a businesman(Henry Travers) who wants the building condemned so he can put up a parking lot for his own employees.Sister Benedict prays for miracle, will she get it?

The story and Ingrid Bergman are charming and delightful and will have you praying with her for that miracle.Bing's beautiful voice graces the film with song and Henry Travers(It's A Wonderful Life) is wonderful as always. It's not too often a sequel equals the original, but with the addition of Bergman, (along with some really adorable kids)and under the direction of Leo McCarey once again, this heartwarming story has accomplished that.

This Silver Screens Classic DVD has done a really nice job with the remastering of this Black and White Classic.The film made in 1945 barely shows it's age. It is a nice clear picture, and the Dolby Digital Sound is good as well. It contains the original Theatrical Trailer, Has French and Spanish language tracks as well as subtitles, and has captioning in English.It also comes with a little brochure with some facts about the filming.If your looking for some great old classics that look great on DVD to add to your collection, this would be a good one.

Happy Viewing......Laurie

Rating:
Summary: Bing's Tones, Ingrid's Charms,Remastered on DVD....Heavenly!
Review: This review refers to the Silver Screen Classics Edition(Republic Pictures)DVD.......

A beautiful sequel to "Going My Way", is now a beautifully transfered to DVD. "The Bells of St.Mary's" is funny, poignant and will tug at your heartstrings.Father O'Malley(Bing Crosby) has now been assigned to a parochial school that is in dire need of repairs. The school has no money and O'Malley's job is to assess the possibilites, of perhaps sending the children to another school.He meets with some tough oppostion though, in the form of one Sister Benedict(Ingrid Bergman). She is the no nonsense type,and right away the two have some very different ideas on what's good for the kids.There is also the problem of a businesman(Henry Travers) who wants the building condemned so he can put up a parking lot for his own employees.Sister Benedict prays for miracle, will she get it?

The story and Ingrid Bergman are charming and delightful and will have you praying with her for that miracle.Bing's beautiful voice graces the film with song and Henry Travers(It's A Wonderful Life) is wonderful as always. It's not too often a sequel equals the original, but with the addition of Bergman, (along with some really adorable kids)and under the direction of Leo McCarey once again, this heartwarming story has accomplished that.

This Silver Screens Classic DVD has done a really nice job with the remastering of this Black and White Classic.The film made in 1945 barely shows it's age. It is a nice clear picture, and the Dolby Digital Sound is good as well. It contains the original Theatrical Trailer, Has French and Spanish language tracks as well as subtitles, and has captioning in English.It also comes with a little brochure with some facts about the filming.If your looking for some great old classics that look great on DVD to add to your collection, this would be a good one.

Happy Viewing......Laurie

Rating:
Summary: The Bells of St. Mary's
Review: We watch The Bells of St. Mary's every year at Christmas. It's a tradition. I know that many think of it as just a corny, sentimental film. And on the surface it is a friendly, light-hearted movie that tugs at our heartstrings in not so subtle ways. The freewheeling Father O'Malley lands in a rundown parish opposite the more traditional Sister Benedict. However, it is much more than that as the themes are timeless. Hope, faith, love, spirituality, miracles, loss, illness, family, triumph and redemption are all explored. The hope of saving St. Mary's. The aging and ailing curmudgeon, Mr. Bogardis, his building, the dog and his redemption. The Sisters' irrational prayers that he'll give them his new building. Billy, the underdog, and Patsy, the forgotten child. The Sisters' close knit group as family. Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman are first rate. Crosby sings as only he can and Bergman's face, framed in the habit, is pure beauty. By the end, you realize the irony that they love each other. Although it was not originally made to be a Christmas movie, The Bells of St. Mary's fits the bill. You get what you need at Christmas: laughs, tears and the warmth of hope. What more could you ask for?

Rating:
Summary: Bing Crosby And Ingrid Bergman Together In Much Loved Roles
Review: What can I say about this classic film other than that it captures perfectly two of Hollywood's most beloved performers in Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman at the peak of their careers in roles with which they would be forever cherished for. The phrase "they dont make them like this anymore", I feel definately applies to this charming little movie which was a sequel to Bing Crosby's Academy Award Winning role in the previous years classic "Going My Way". Playing the ever resourceful singing Father O'Malley Bing Crosby created the type of character for which he would be always identified with. The great Ingrid Bergman fought long and hard to obtain the plum role of Sister Benedict despite the reluctance of David O. Selznick to loan her for a role which he felt would only require her to sit and listen to Bing Crosby sing. Ingrid apparently said that she would love to be able to do just that and turned in one of her most famous performances as the sensible head nun of St. Mary's School who engages in an affectionate rivalry over the future of the school when Father O'Malley is assigned there to sort out the school's many problems. The two leads deliver first rate performances in the rather leisurely story and with "The Bells of St. Mary's", Ingrid Bergman especially became almost the benchmark for how nuns were to be portrayed in Hollywood for the next 30 years.

We first see Father O'Malley arriving at St. Mary's school in his new appointment where he is to be responsible for looking into the future of the present establishment which from lack of funds is operating in a very run down building and has already been forced to sell off most of the children's playing area to developer Horace P. Bogardus (Henry Travers). He is building a new factory on the site and hopes to buy the rest of the school as well. St. Mary's is run by Sister Benedict(Ingrid Bergman), a nun who believes in the power of prayer to obtain what is needed in life. With Father O'Malley's more practical everyday philosophy on life the two soon become engaged in a battle of wills over what future St. Mary's has. Sister Benedict strongly believes that Mr. Bogardus will eventually donate his nearly completed building to the school whereas Father O'Malley sees the logic of selling off the remaining school grounds. As time goes by a number of people and incidents occur to colour the life of St. Mary's and which allow both Father O'Malley and Sister Benedict to learn more about each others qualities that increase the at times reluctant respect they have for each other. Father O'Malley takes responsibility for the education of a young girl Patsy (Joan Carroll), who is left at the school and who doesn't know who her father is, and he sets out to reunite her shattered family. Meanwhile Sister Benedict takes young student Eddie (Richard Tyler), under her wing and actually teaches him boxing in order for him to be able to defend himself against some playground bullies. Despite the seemingly ongoing hopeless situation St. Mary's is in Sister Benedict's unswerving belief in a miracle occuring finally does happen when through a health scare Mr. Bogardus realises the need to do something for others in order to be liked by people and with some not so gently "persuasion", by Sister Benedict and the other nuns he finally donates the new building to the school and thus St. Mary's is saved from closing. However Sister Benedict's trials are not yet over when her own health begins to fail from over work and it is discovered she is suffering from the early stages of TB. Father O'Malley with his growing respect for the Sister then faces the difficult task of relieving her of her duties at her beloved St. Mary's so that she can recover in a warmer climate from her ailment. At first depressed about being sent away and not informed of her illness Sister Bendict prays hard to find forgiveness in her heart for Father O"Malley's seemingly harsh actions. Only when she is finally saying her goodbyes to the Sisters does Father O"Malley break down and tell her the real reason why she is being sent away and the rift between then instantly disappears. To an obviously relived Sister Father O'Malley then delivers his famous line that if She ever needs anything at all all she needs to do is "Dial "O" for O'Malley".

As beautiful and heartfelt story as you would find anywhere "The Bells of St. Mary's", is a class act from start to finish and while perhaps not as famous as its illustrious "parent", "Going My Way", it has much that is worthwhile. The once off teaming of Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman created great chemistry on screen and they are both incredibly believable in their performances. The film contains a number of truly delightful little scenes that really help humanise the characters such as when Father O'Malley has to content with a kitten playing in his hat while he is giving his welcome speech to the very amused nuns, and especially when Sister Benedict teaches Eddie to box and "coaches", him from the window during a school yard fight. Both performers are perfect here and in the sadder moments such as when Sister Benedict is told she is being sent away these two really show their acting strengths in a scene that could have been simply sentimental with little depth to it but which is turned into a remarkable scene that shows that clergy are people just like everyone else full of many different emotions. Veteran character actor Henry Travers who was so wonderful in countless classic over this decade such as "Mrs. Miniver", delivers another fine performance here as the grumpy Mr. Bogardus who eventually sees the value in living life in the service of others. His scenes with Ingrid Bergman in particular recall his great work opposite that other popular 40's actress Greer Garson in "Mrs. Miniver", and is beautifully multilayered for what could have been just your standard mean old man. Produced and directed by Leo McCarey he leads the film in an at times slow and leisurely pace however that suits the subject matter here as it slowly traces the growing respect that develops between the two sometime rivals Father O'Malley and Sister Benedict. Nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress, the film shows off its expertise in all areas and while at times of course idealised it is a good illustration of much of the largely unacknowledged work carried in schools by the clergy over the decades.

"The Bells of St. Mary's", may appear on the sentimental side to modern movie watches but I appreciate it for the truly great performances by the two leads in their prime and for the sensitive treatment it takes in depicting one woman's great belief in the basic good of others and their ability to do the right thing by their fellow man. For a look into how Hollywood once depicted the varied work of nuns and priests in a dignified manner while still showing them as human beings with feelings, "The Bells of St. Mary's", is unrivalled and is highly recommended viewing. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic, but not Bing's best.
Review: While I consider Bells of St. Mary's as a classic and enjoy all of the movies in which Bing Crosby stars, I feels that the story line develops a little slowly. Among those which I enjoy more are: Holiday Inn (an annual holiday season viewing) w/ Fred Estaire, Going My Way (w/ Barry Fitzgerald) and White Christmas (w/ Danny Kaye). Buy the collection, you'll enjoy them all

Rating:
Summary: The Disclaimer
Review: Your disclaimer clauses need to contain the following information for all items: "Although an item on our web site shows it is available "On-the-Shelf", it in fact may not be. We are not sure what we have available when you order an item and we are making our best guess. So it may actually take 2-weeks for us to get the item. We are sorry for any inconvenience."