A Bell for Adano (1945)

Luis Alberni, Gene Tierney, Henry Armetta, John Hodiak, William Bendix ... see more  , Richard Conte , Roman Bohnen , Fortunio Bonanova , Eduardo Ciannelli , Gino Corrado , Peter Cusanelli , Marcel Dalio , Anna Demetrio , William Edmunds , Hugo Haas , Reed Hadley , Edward Hyans , Frank Jaquet , Charles Judels , Charles La Torre , Glenn Langan , Chef Joseph Milani , Henry Morgan , Stanley Prager , Roy Roberts , John Russell , Grady Sutton , Yvonne Vautrot , Minor Watson , Mimi Aguglia , John Bagni , Harry Carter , Frank Lackteen , Eva Puig , James Rennie , Minerva Urecal , Monty Banks

Director Henry King's adaptation of John Hersey's novel is a faithful telling of the story of Major Joppolo (John Hodiak), who is assigned to administrate the Sicilian town of Adano after World War II... read more  and attempts to return it to its pre-war tranquility. His initial actions include feeding and clothing the villagers, who have been left starved and destitute by the ravages of the war, and preventing the hanging of its former mayor, a Mussolini supporter, although he makes clear that any hints of Fascism will not be tolerated. Suspicious at first, the villagers finally come to trust Joppolo when he works to reclaim the town bell, stolen from the city hall and a symbol of its identity. Gene Tierney plays the fisherman's daughter that Joppolo falls for, while William Bendix is his compassionate orderly and assistant. A Bell For Adano is a low-key look at the effects of war that builds to a quietly powerful conclusion. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi