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Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman, Henry Travers, Ruth Donnelly, William Gargan ... see more see more... , Rhys Williams , Joan Carroll , Una O'Connor , Martha Sleeper , Dick Tyler , Gwen Crawford , Jimmie Dundee , Bobby Frasco , Matt McHugh , Eva Novak , Joseph Palmas , Dewey Robinson , Cora Shannon , Minerva Urecal , Edna May Wonacott , Aina Constant , Jimmy Crane , Ingmar Bergman

In this follow-up to director Leo McCarey's Going My Way (1944), Bing Crosby repeats his Oscar-winning characterization of happy-go-lucky priest Father O'Malley. The good father is sent to help out fi... read more read more...nancially strapped St. Mary's Academy, a parochial school presided over by lovely nun Sister Benedict (Ingrid Bergman). The film is constructed in anecdotal fashion: Nun and priest gently quarrel over teaching methods; they help patch up the tottering marriage of William Gargan and Martha Sleeper; Sister Benedict plays baseball and teaches a student how to box; Father O'Malley softens the heart of the man who holds the mortgage (Henry Travers) by convincing the poor fellow that he's only got a few months to live; and the kids of St. Mary's put on a much-revised stage version of the Nativity, complete with a chorus of "Happy Birthday" on the occasion of the Virgin Birth. A huge hit at the box office, Bells of St. Mary's was nominated for nine Academy Awards. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

76% liked it

6,788 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

17 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 6 min.

Directed by: Leo McCarey

Release Date: December 27, 1945

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DVD Release Date: September 23, 2003

Stats: 269 reviews

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Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's Ingrid Bergman in The Bells of St. Mary's Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's The Bells of St. Mary's
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Flixster Reviews (269)

  • cosmo313
    November 27, 2011
    cosmo313
    This is the story of an easy going priest and a firm nun who try to put their differences aside in order to save a financially strapped parochial school from closing due to the hardheartedness of a stuffy businessman who has the building's mortgage.

    The story isn't really anythi... read moreng new or original, but it's still pretty decently done. It's actually rather loose plotwise, and is very episodic in nature, often being playing fast and loose with the timeline. The script could have been a tad stronger, but this is made up by some decent direction, good cinematogrpahy, and some wonderful performances.

    Bing Crosby is the type of guy who you really can't find a reason to hate. He's just too damn nice and loveable. Same goes for his character. He plays the type of priest I'd love to hang out with in real life. He's easy going and fun, but he's also got hius heart in the right place, and really cares. Ingrid Bergman is too attractive to be a realistic nun, but her performance is terrific, and she's (looks aside) convincing as the stern nun who begins to soften and become more understanding. Henry Travers is also good, if slightly underused as the old fudddyduddy businessman.

    I'm fine with having several different plotlines going on, I just wish that the main one wasn't introduced, then mostly shelved for a while before making an appearance again. More balance with the stories would have made for a more focused and tighter film. That aside, this one's pretty solid.

    All in all, this is a difficult film to not enjoy. It's got a bit of everything: comedy, drama, singing, stories of hope, redemption, forgiveness, and a heavy coating of charm and innocence. I'm not sure if I just really like or possibly even love it. I'll just be fair and give it at least a 4. I definitely recommend giving this a watch though.
  • ajv2688
    October 18, 2010
    ajv2688
    A very nice movie (sequel to Going My Way) with Crosby as a priest again helping Bergman, a nun, and her school. It's not just a drama with Crosby singing his songs, it's also pretty funny. It's enjoyable for the whole family.
  • donnarenee2006
    December 2, 2007
    donnarenee2006
    Great movie with Ingrid Bergman and Bing Cosby. Funny and charming, the movie is a wonderful classic.
  • ballroombeauty83
    January 14, 2008
    ballroombeauty83
    I saw this for the first time this weekend. It was touching. Not much of a true storyline, a bit unrealistic as most movies are, and a little long, but a beautifully acted and directed film
  • thrusz
    December 9, 2007
    thrusz
    This really isn't one movie. I mean, it's not like it is composed of vignettes or anything, but the main plot just doesn't exist. Really, this is subplots, the movie. And you know what? I really don't care. (Too much...) The weird thing is that there is no over-arching conf... read morelict except the fact that the two main characters don't agree on a lot. It's not like they dislike each other, but they simply have differentiating teaching styles. That's the throughline. I know...pretty weak, eh? Who cares? It's Christmas. (At least in one scene.)

    Now I'm going to point out the epiphany that I had during this movie. I am crazy forgiving for corniness in older movies. Maybe because the movie's overall mood allows for some really cheeseball moments to come off as heartwarming. I giggled like a schoolgirl when I saw the first grade Christmas play. But if I saw that in Cheaper by the Dozen 3? I would swear at the screen violently. It's probably because contemporary movies are so dependent on low-brow silliness that cornball moments just seem out of place. Anywa,y there are ton of cornball moments in The Bells of St. Mary's, but that's really okay. There's some really touching stuff in something that is basically a light character study.

    Now, I am really wondering why this movie is considered a Christmas film. Yes, one very important scene takes place during Christmas, but it is not about this scene by any means. Heck, if you took out the Christmas scene, the film wouldn't change all that much. That scene is one among many "fun scenes". Also, I found this movie unusally touching considering it had oh-so-little actual structure. It seemed to be full of substance. Perhaps I should classify this under meatloaf movies. But that makes it seem like a Hallmark movie and, by no means, is it a Hallmark movie. Maybe this can be safely categorized as gourmet meatloaf.

    Man, that sounds good. Anyway, it's got a bit of a long runtime and has very little actual conflict in the story, but if you just want a heartwarming solid time, enjoy this one.
  • schumacher
    January 5, 2007
    schumacher
    Just imagine! There was a time when movie-makers didn't feel compelled to be cynical. Gentle and cheerful, but not naive.
  • spielbrat
    December 27, 2006
    spielbrat
    Don't judge this book by it's cover. Subtle and bittersweet without getting too sentimental. Remember it's Bergman and Bing. They're pretty good actors, you know.

View All The Bells of St. Mary's Reviews

Critic Reviews

December 5, 2008
TIME Magazine

As Sister Benedict, Ingrid Bergman manages to combine beauty, great good humor and saintly dignity even while swinging a baseball bat. Full Review

Variety Staff
July 22, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

[Bergman's] clashes with Crosby...are moments that will have an audience alternately laughing and sniffling. Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Seldom has a sequel so completely transcended its predecessor. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
January 21, 2011
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Though the various irregular pieces of this movie make it one of McCarey's least satisfying movies on an artistic level, it's totally understandable as to why it's his most popular. Full Review

Scott G. Mignola
January 2, 2011
Scott G. Mignola, Common Sense Media

A classic of faith and values. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
February 12, 2008
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Before singing nuns, there were singing priests, such as Bing Crosby as Father O'Malley in Leo McCarey's charming sequel that's better (and was more popular at the box-office) than the original, the 1... Full Review

Steve Crum
January 1, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Only a nitch less entertaining than 'Going My Way,' but Ingrid Bergman's nun helps in the balance.

Dennis Schwartz
March 13, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Winsome and highly commercial sequel to Going My Way. Full Review

December 4, 2006
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Touchingly sentimental, but strong in all the right places. Full Review

Tom Milne
June 24, 2006
Tom Milne, Time Out

Rambling [and] embarrassingly winsome... Full Review

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The Bells of St. Mary's Trivia

  • On Christmas Day, the women at Magdalene Laundry got to watch a movie, what was the name of that movie. Hint - The name of the movie here is The Magdalene Sisters.  Answer »
  • In "It's a Wonderful Life" what movie is playing at the local movie theater?  Answer »
  • In the movie "It's a Wonderful Life, What movie is playing when George runs down the main street of Bedford Falls?  Answer »
  • Who had been the priest at St Mary's in The Bells Of St Marys ?  Answer »
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