The Bells of St Mary’s hit the theaters in 1945
The Bells of St Mary’s stars Bing Crosby who is joined by Ingrid Bergman in the 1945 holiday classic, It was first released in December of that year. As for Christmas, the only link is a cute scene involving a children’s’ pageant. In it Bing Crosby reprises his award-winning role as the priest Father O’Malley. This black and white film has plenty of songs, as we’ve come to expect from Bing Crosby, but it also has a great story-line. The tale takes place in a run-down inner city school, run by nuns who are praying for a way to keep the school open and thereby keep the teachers and students together. The alternative is to bus some of the students elsewhere, with the poorer ones unable to attend the newer private school being put out entirely, while the nuns would be dispersed. Father O’Malley arrives to supervise the school and decide if it can be salvaged.
The Bells of St Mary’s, there is great chemistry between Ingrid Bergman’s character, Sister Mary Benedict and Bing Crosby’s Father O’Malley. The pair are at odds with how things should be run at the school, with Sister Mary being the experienced one and Father O’Malley being an astute judge of character, who seems to work his magic behind the scenes. As the movie is ending Sister Mary is being transferred away from her beloved school. She thinks it is done in spite because she wasn’t always the most cooperative with Father O’Malley, and struggles to remain calm, but in reality her saddened heart is for naught, as she is actually being moved for convalescence of a health condition. Just before she leaves, Father O’Malley reveals to her the reason for her transfer, unburdening her heart from her conflicted feelings.
The Bells of St Mary’s is twice linked (to my favorite film) “It’s a Wonderful Life”. First, it is the film shown on the marquee in Bedford Falls and secondly Henry Travers who plays George Bailey’s guardian angel, is in The Bell’s of St. Mary’s. His role is pivotal, first as a cantankerous industrialist who seems to dislike children and then as the hero of the film who’s generosity saves the school.
