The Bells of St. Mary's
- Bing Crosby: Pastor Chuck O'Malley
- Ingrid Bergman: Sister Mary Benedict
- Henry Travers: Horace P. Bogardus
- William Gargan: Joe Gallagher
- Ruth Donnelly: Sister Michael
- Joan Carroll: Patricia " Patsy " Gallagher
- Martha Sleeper: Mary Gallagher
- Rhys Williams: Dr. McKay
- Richard Tyler: Eddie Breen
- Una O'Connor: Mrs. Breen
The Bells of St. Mary (Original Title: The Bells of St. Mary's ) is an American film drama starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman in the year 1945 It is the sequel to the film The Road to Happiness ( Going My Way. 1944), had received the Oscar for Bing Crosby. Both films were produced by Leo McCarey and staged.
Action
Is appointed as pastor Chuck O'Malley in New York to head the rundown Catholic School St. Mary's, he gives to the chagrin of Sister Mary Benedict was the first official act the students a day off. During a tour on the school grounds, he meets shortly after the businessman Horace P. Bogardus, which can build right next to the school a new office building. Because this still requires a parking lot for its employees and wants to buy and tear down for this purpose, St. Mary's, he urges pastor O'Malley to accommodate students at another school with modern facilities. O'Malley, who initially considers it the best, then met Mary Gallagher, a single mother who wants her daughter Patricia accommodate at St. Mary. Her husband Joe, a musician, she had abandoned many years ago and she suggested since then more bad than good through life. O'Malley has over Patricia's origin, however, no concerns and takes the girl sympathetically on in school.
In the fight of two boys in the school yard to O'Malley and Sister Benedict face with their different conceptions of educational methods. While O'Malley congratulated the winners, says Sister Benedict to Eddie, who defeated his opponent that it had been right not to fight back and not fight back. Later, however, concerned a textbook on the boxes and brings the fist fight with Eddie. When Eddie gets back into a fight with the other boys, he finally goes out as a winner. But instead of continuing to reduce these, he holds out his hand and invites him to an ice cream. Meanwhile, O'Malley cares about Patricia, and their initially very poor grades improve noticeably.
O'Malley ultimately pleases the school but no longer sell and the nuns hope Mr. Bogardus with prayers to persuade them to leave his office building on the establishment of new classrooms and a gymnasium. As the school year draws to a close and her mother Patricia wants to show her prom dress, she sees her mother with a man she does not know. However, it is her father, the O'Malley has partnered with the nut. Sorry about the supposed dissolute life of her mother, Patricia deliberately falls through in the final test to a one-year stay in St. Marien longer can.
Mr. Bogardus finally agrees to St. Mary to leave his office building. Sister Benedict is also very happy. As a doctor an early stage of tuberculosis notes with her, he advises O'Malley Sister Benedict to move to a quieter place where they can get healthy again, but without telling her that she is sick. Sadly, about her transfer, meets Sister Benedict on the date of award certificate to Patricia, her mother has not said to have failed. When Mrs. Gallagher with Patricia's father joins them and clears up the family relationship, is to understand Sister Benedict Patricia that she has yet graduated, the girl had finally failed the test only intentionally. When Sister Benedict goes on her way to her new home and O'Malley they finally informed that she has been infected with tuberculosis and it is set for this reason, it leaves facilitates school and promises to be better soon.
Background
The film was produced by the independent film company Rainbow Productions, who had Leo McCarey, Bing Crosby, Buddy DeSylva, David Butler and Hal Roach Jr. founded shortly before. While McCarey joined as director, screenwriter and producer in appearance and Crosby took over the male lead, Ingrid Bergman could be hired for $ 175,000 by producer David O. Selznick, in which she was at that time under contract. To prepare for her role as a nun, Bergman attended a convention and met with Leo McCareys aunt, who had served this as a model for the role of Sister Mary Benedict. The shooting took place among others in Tucson, Arizona instead. For the Filmbauten William Flannery and Albert S. D' Agostino were responsible. The costumes were designed by Edith Head.
Bing Crosby sings in the film, the songs The Bells of St. Mary's, Are not You Glad You're You?, In the Land of Beginning Again, Adeste Fideles and O Holy Night in the Latin version of O Sanctissima. Ingrid Bergman wears in the film before the Swedish song Varvindar friska.
The Bells of St. Mary was premiered on December 6, 1945 in New York's Radio City Music Hall, distributed by RKO Pictures and evolved in the United States the biggest box office hit of the year. The film grossed more money than its predecessor, the way to happiness at the box office and was blown away by the Wind (1939 ) and This Is the Army ( 1943) the third financially successful film of its time. In Germany The Bells of St. Mary's was first shown on 1 September 1947 in the cinemas.
Reviews
The lexicon of the International film described the film as " [ f] reundlich soulful conversation with hearty faith optimism ". He was, however, " without any deeper religious substance, atmospheric not genuine, with some rather embarrassing effects." Cinema recommended the film nostalgic as " dessert à la Hollywood."
Variety found the film "on warm sentimental way ." The "simple act" have you jazzed up " with laughter " and Leo McCareys recipe for success The road to happiness is risen again. Bing Crosby was as good as the predecessor and Ingrid Bergman ask again " versatility " to the test. For the film critic Leonard Maltin, it was a " lovable, albeit rambling sequel to The Way to Happiness".
Awards
The film was nominated eight times for the Academy Awards in 1946, but was only in the category Best Sound (Stephen Dunn) won the Oscar. In the categories of Best Film, Best Director ( Leo McCarey ), Best Actor ( Bing Crosby ), Best Actress ( Ingrid Bergman ), Best Editing ( Harry marker), Best Original Score (Robert Emmett Dolan ) and Best Song ( Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke Are not You Glad You're You for ) subject to the film of the competition.
However, Ingrid Bergman won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Drama and a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. At the ceremony of the Photoplay awards of the film with the Golden Medal was awarded.
German version
The German synchronous processing was created by the Motion Picture Export Association. For the transcripts and the synchronous Director Franz Baldewein was responsible.