KnotMissPriceless
Why so much hype?
SanEat
A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."
Dana
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
actionsub
I watched this last night, after not having seen it in decades. I vaguely remembered a plot about getting a building for a Catholic school, and remembering it as more of a Christmas movie, so I was surprised at there only being snow in about five minutes of the film. It's the little touches that Crosby, Bergman, and director McCarey put in that make this film endearing. There's a sly line by Father O'Malley (Crosby) when Sis. Benedict (Bergman) calls on a student to recite: "Luther? How'd HE get in here?" There's another little bit involving a kitten who gets into O'Malley's straw hat while he's making an introductory speech to the nuns which is absolutely hilarious! And the adlibbed children's Nativity play is totally heartwarming in its honest simplicity, in an age when churches now try to play "can you top this?" with overproduced Christmas spectaculars. (A side note: today's viewers might be a bit taken aback that the Pledge of Allegiance as recited by the students omits the words "under God". That was a reflection of the times, not of "liberal Hollywood". The film was produced in 1945; the words "under God" would not be added for another eight years as a post-war reaction to the rise of Communism. The recitation of the Pledge in the film is a verbatim reflection of the way every school child in America said it in 1945.)
disdressed12
this is the sequel and more famous cousin to Going my Way.Bing Crosby reprises his role of Father O'Malley.Ingrid Bergman co-stars.this movie is much deeper than it's predecessor,and has a much better,stronger story.Crosby and Bergman are both brilliant here.the story has some very touching moments.i welled up a few times.there are strong themes of hope and faith and miracles here,and the human spirit.wheres there are a quite a few lighter,comedic moments in Going my Way,there aren't that many here.it's much more serious in tone.i don't know if Bergman and/or Crosby won academy awards for their portrayals,but they give award worthy performance.the movie does feel a bit long and there are some slow moments,but overall,i liked it.i give The Bells of St. Mary's a 6/10
Jackson Booth-Millard
I was mainly interested in this film because the lead actor, singer of "White Christmas", won an Oscar for playing this character (in the film Going My Way), and it was apparently really popular at the cinemas, and it being number 20 on The Ultimate Film certainly proves that. Oscar nominated Bing Crosby reprises his role as Father Chuck O'Malley, the unconventional priest, who is sent to St. Mary's Catholic school on the verge of condemnation. O'Malley and principal Sister Mary Benedict (Golden Globe winning, and Oscar nominated Ingrid Bergman) work together both with the children in all their situations, e.g. fights, Christmas plays, passing grades, especially young Patricia 'Patsy' Gallagher (Joan Carroll), but they also work to save the school. Of course O'Malley and the Sister have their good-natured disagreements, but they both make sure all the kids, particularly smart Patsy make the best of their time at the school. I should mention the only person of helping them save the school, self confessed grumpy guy Horace P. Bogardus (It's a Wonderful Life's Henry Travers) does eventually change his ways, and agrees with his newfound kindness to help them. Also starring Martha Sleeper as Mary Gallagher (Patsy's mother), William Gargan as Joe Gallagher (Patsy's father), Ruth Donnelly as Sister Michael, Richard Tyler as Eddie Breen, Una O'Connor as Mrs. Breen and Rhys Williams as Dr. McKay. It won the Oscar for Best Sound, and it was nominated for Best Director for Leo McCarey (Duck Soup, An Affair to Remember), Best Film Editing, Best Song for "Aren't You Glad You're You", Best Music for Robert Emmett Dolan and Best Picture. It was number 20 on The Ultimate Film. Good!
Neil Doyle
THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S is a nice follow-up to GOING MY WAY, with BING CROSBY again cast as Father O'Malley. The script gives him a couple of obstacles to overcome (once again), one of them being the rather frosty disagreement he and INGRID BERGMAN have over the rearing of children.It's all a bit sugar-coated, but it's easy to fall under the spell of Bergman's glowing performance and the few amusing episodes that make up most of the human interest factor in the slight story. There's even a catchy song ("Aren't You Glad You're You?") which won an Oscar nomination in 1945, but the story is so simple-minded that you'll have to have a lot of affection for Bing and Ingrid to want to watch this particular film.There's a nice supporting cast, including the always reliable UNA O'CONNOR, JOAN CARROLL and the lovable HENRY TRAVERS as a man who must be convinced to use his riches for the goodness of man. Leo McCarey gets a lot of sly humor into the story, such as the scene where O'Malley is first addressing the nuns and wondering why all the giggling is taking place. On a shelf behind him, an inquisitive kitten is moving around under his hat.It's tastefully done, even with an ending that includes the news that Bergman's character has a terminal illness. Somehow, director McCarey keeps it all under control so that it never becomes downright maudlin, and he certainly gets the best possible work out of Crosby, Bergman and a flock of hyperactive school kids.
