IMDb > The Miracle of the Bells (1948)

The Miracle of the Bells (1948) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   277 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Irving Pichel
Writers:
Russell Janney (novel)
Ben Hecht (writer) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Miracle of the Bells on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 March 1948 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
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... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
User Comments:
Not Quite A Miracle, But Close more (14 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited 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
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
120 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Finland:S | Spain:7 | USA:Approved (PCA #12607) | Sweden:Btl
Filming Locations:
Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania, USA more
Company:
Jesse L. Lasky Productions more

Fun Stuff

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. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in From the Journals of Jean Seberg (1995) more
Soundtrack:
Ever Homeward more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful.
Not Quite A Miracle, But Close, 24 December 2001
8/10
Author: Eric Chapman (caspar_h@yahoo.com) from Pittsburgh, PA

Maltin's "guide", which should be called a "MIS-Guide", oh so generously bestows this film with a whopping star and a half. The truth is this is a fine piece of film-making, a tad unwieldy at times and perhaps 20 minutes overlong, but made with a high level of care and craft. There are many moving, poignant scenes, particularly one set early on at Christmas time. MacMurray and Valli unexpectedly run into each other and proceed to share a relaxed and blissfully unrehearsed Christmas Eve dinner at a Chinese restaurant that they have all to themselves (not unlike in the more recent A Christmas Story). The chemistry between the two and the restaurant's benevolent Asian owner is nearly heavenly.

The film has that irresistible Citizen Kane-ish structure where a character is gradually revealed and only truly understood AFTER their death. It also is refreshing in its positive depiction of religion and the important role it plays in so many people's lives. And it does so without insulting those in the audience who may not happen to be a member of that faith (Catholicism) or suggest that because they are not, that they're going to hell. If only more of today's film-makers had such courage and insight.

Performance-wise I was most impressed with Fred MacMurray who clearly invested a lot emotionally in his character. Valli is fine as the angelic aspiring actress and Lee J. Cobb is commanding as always as a studio mogul with more integrity than one might expect. Frank Sinatra as a devout small town priest? He's not bad but he hadn't yet been influenced by Montgomery Clift's method acting style in From Here To Eternity, and he comes across as a mite green for the part.

Quality work. Maltin's off by a star or two once again.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (14 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Miracle of the Bells (1948)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Miracle Of The Bells djjoe-2
A failure? lightkeeper-1
how green was my valli jaykaybuck
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Journal d'un curé de campagne The Song of Bernadette Ace in the Hole The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne Johnny Got His Gun
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.