The Miracle of the Bells (1948)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Irving Pichel

Writers:

Russell Janney (novel)
Ben Hecht (writer) ...

Release Date:

27 March 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Granting her final request, a Hollywood press agent brings the dead body of an actress, who died after making her first and only film...

Plot Keywords:

Bell | Actress | Press Agent | Christmas Eve | Chorus Girl

Cast

Fred MacMurray	...	William 'Bill' Dunnigan
Alida Valli	...	Olga Treskovna (as Valli)
Frank Sinatra	...	Father Paul
Lee J. Cobb	...	Marcus Harris
Harold Vermilyea	...	Nick Orloff
Charles Meredith	...	Father J. Spinsky
James Nolan	...	Tod Jones (as Jim Nolan)
Veronica Pataky	...	Miss Anna Klovna
Philip Ahn	...	Ming Gow
Frank Ferguson	...	Mike Dolan
Frank Wilcox	...	Dr. Jennings

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Spain:7 | USA:Approved (PCA #12607) | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Jesse L. Lasky Productions

Trivia:

Rumor had it that 'Ben Hecht' took the screenplay assignment on condition he didn't have to read the book. Quentin Reynolds, who is credited onscreen as screenwriter, supposedly read the book and reported its contents to Hecht.

Movie Connections:

References Joan of Arc (1948)

Soundtrack:

Ever Homeward

Sweetly well-meaning movie

What a sweet and well-meaning movie this is. It's about love and respect for family and background and wanting to make a lasting mark on the shifting sands of our world.

The movie is not perfect, of course, it could have been shorter and not suffered much for it. The points seem belabored during the last half hour. Fred MacMurray saying "baby" all the time to Olga, the female lead was a little off-putting. Not so much for the word itself, it just seemed un-natural to hear him say it.

All that said, I will reiterate that this is a sweet movie. There is a great Christmas scene that will forever make me think of this as a "Christmas Movie". Philip Ahn as the Chinese retaurateur was a beam of light and gentleness in this movie. His role was a stand-out.

Frank Sinatra was to have better roles in later years and his acting technique would develop. He is slightly lost in the role here. But that is no big sleight in this movie.

Recommended. Religious but not preachy, sweet but not sickly sweet. A nice movie for cold Christmas eves.