After watching director Leo McCarey's 1945, black-and-white ode to sentimentality, it's intriguing to note how everything old becomes new again. As evidenced by 1998 box-office fare such as Stepmom and One True Thing, the "disease of the week" mentality has been tugging at filmgoers' hearts for decades. The Bells of St. Mary's is the "sequel" to McCarey's Oscar-winning Going My Way, for which star Bing Crosby incredulously took home a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the paternal priest, Father O'Malley. But in The Bells of St. Mary's, Crosby's undernourished, laconic technique barely registers against the luminous, playful gravity of Ingrid Bergman, who embodies the heart of a faith-abiding but forward-thinking nun named Sister Benedict. O'Malley is transferred to her poverty-stricken school, and the two square off, ultimately forming a respect and liking for each other despite the fact that the good Sister has taken ill with tuberculosis and Father O'Malley must send her away from her beloved parish to save her life. Sure, The Bells of St. Mary's feels outdated and even trivial in light of the successors to its throne, but it's still a contender. McCarey had the touch for striking a chord that hearkens back to everything we didn't get as kids. He fills a need, as it were, with his ability to reveal our human frailties. Too, he's got Ingrid Bergman, who makes us fondly remember every teacher who lovingly and patiently made a difference in our lives. The Bells of St. Mary's recalls better days and romanticizes a gentler way of being, as suggested when Sister Benedict, after overhearing Father O'Malley remark that sometimes a man must fight his way through life, offers simply in response, "Why not make him think his way through instead?" --Paula Nechak

Customer Rating:
Summary: Bells of St Mary's
Comment: Wonderful old movie, have to watch it every Christmas along with It's a Wonderful Life and Alastair Sim's Scrooge.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Like Bing says, "I always wanted to do that again."
Comment: Bing plays Father O'Malley and Bergman heads the Catholic girls school with their challenges cut out for them. He must take in a problem girl whose father abandoned her and she must help a deliquent boy learn to box so he can win some school yard fights. A greedy businessman who wants to tear down the school to build a new parking lot is converted by their winning ways to donate his new building for their school. Always worth seeing again is the touching moment where Bergman learns she being transferred away from the school. "The Bells of St. Mary's" sung by Crosby is worthwhile to watch again any time of year.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Favorite movie
Comment: To correct an earlier review, the movie was not edited to eliminate the words "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. Those words were not added to the Pledge until the 1950s, about five to ten years after the movie was filmed. That being said, Bells of Saint Mary's is one of my favorite movies. When I first saw it 30 years ago, it made me an instant Bing Crosby fan.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: The Bells of St. Mary's
Comment: An excellent Christmas classic movie for the whole family. This movie has become a Christmas tradition for our family to watch each year. The picture is so clear with the digital remastering... so much better than the old VHS.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A Christmas Gift
Comment: Margaret Lawrence

Sixy Three years ago, I saw this movie for the first time and have enjoyed watching it through the years. The song from the movie THE BELLS OF SAINT MARYS has alway been one of my favorite songs.

When my husband and I was married in 1961, THE BELLS OF SAINT MARYS was played at our Wedding.

During this Christmas season, families need to watch this movie and renew
the story is brings, love, sharing, and giving of ones material things to
better our neighbors.

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