A Bell for Adano (1945)

In WW2, U.S. Army Major Joppolo and his troops are tasked with administering the war damaged Italian town of Adano where the locals decry the loss of the town bell.

Director:

Henry King

Writers:

Lamar Trotti (screenplay), Norman Reilly Raine (screenplay)

Stars:

Gene Tierney, John Hodiak, William Bendix

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gene Tierney	...	Tina Tomasino
John Hodiak	...	Maj. Victor P. Joppolo
William Bendix	...	Sgt. Borth
Glenn Langan	...	Lt. Crofts Livingstone, USN
Richard Conte	...	Nicolo - Italian POW
Stanley Prager	...	Sgt. Trampani
Harry Morgan	...	Capt. N. Purvis (as Henry Morgan)
Monty Banks	...	Giuseppe
Reed Hadley	...	Cmdr. Robertson
Roy Roberts	...	Col. W.W. Middleton - Provost Marshal
Hugo Haas	...	Father Pensovecchio
Marcel Dalio	...	Zito
Fortunio Bonanova	...	Gargano - Chief of Police
Henry Armetta	...	Errante - Cart Man
Roman Bohnen	...	Carl Erba - Cart Man

Storyline

Major Joppolo and his men are assigned to restore order to the war-torn Italian town of Adano. He has to manage getting supplies into town without interfering with troop movements, all the while dealing with colorful citizens of the town. One of his quests is to replace the bell which orders the town's life.

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Plot Keywords:

homosexual subtext | insubordination | disobeying orders | hunger | bell | 

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Taglines:

The great novel of today becomes the great picture of our time !

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of Henry Armetta. Colonel Effingham's Raid (1946), released in February 1946, after his death in October 1945, had actually been completed a year earlier.

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Goofs

When Tina crosses her room to open the door to Victor late at night, she carries an oil lamp. However, the long electrical cord actually powering the lamp is clearly visible as she crosses the room.

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Connections

Version of Lux Video Theatre: A Bell for Adano (1955)

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Soundtracks

Lili Marleen
(uncredited)
Music by Norbert Schultze

User Reviews

Didn't move me very much

I enjoyed this movie as I was watching it, but it didn't leave much of a memory for later. John Hodiak is great, as is William Bendix and Harry Morgan, but I thought Gene Tierney was the best, even though she looked a tad silly with blonde hair. This movie could use a remake, and I usually don't think that way. But there is a great story here and it could use a new treatment.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

21 June 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

John Hersey's A Bell for Adano

Filming Locations:

Malibu, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1