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IMDbPro

The Bells of St. Mary's

  • 1945
  • Unrated
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
8.7K
YOUR RATING
Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
Trailer for this classic drama about a church
Play trailer1:50
1 Video
98 Photos
Drama

At a big city Catholic school, Father O'Malley and Sister Benedict indulge in friendly rivalry, and succeed in extending the school through the gift of a building.At a big city Catholic school, Father O'Malley and Sister Benedict indulge in friendly rivalry, and succeed in extending the school through the gift of a building.At a big city Catholic school, Father O'Malley and Sister Benedict indulge in friendly rivalry, and succeed in extending the school through the gift of a building.

  • Director
    • Leo McCarey
  • Writers
    • Dudley Nichols
    • Leo McCarey
  • Stars
    • Bing Crosby
    • Ingrid Bergman
    • Henry Travers
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    8.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Leo McCarey
    • Writers
      • Dudley Nichols
      • Leo McCarey
    • Stars
      • Bing Crosby
      • Ingrid Bergman
      • Henry Travers
    • 72User reviews
    • 50Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 6 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Bells of St. Mary's
    Trailer 1:50
    Watch The Bells of St. Mary's

    Photos98

    Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
    Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
    Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
    Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
    Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
    Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
    Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
    Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
    Ingrid Bergman in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
    Ingrid Bergman in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
    Henry Travers and Rhys Williams in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
    Bing Crosby, William Gargan, and Martha Sleeper in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bing Crosby
    Bing Crosby
    • Father Chuck O'Malley
    Ingrid Bergman
    Ingrid Bergman
    • Sister Mary Benedict
    Henry Travers
    Henry Travers
    • Horace P. Bogardus
    William Gargan
    William Gargan
    • Joe Gallagher
    Ruth Donnelly
    Ruth Donnelly
    • Sister Michael
    Joan Carroll
    Joan Carroll
    • Patsy Gallagher
    Martha Sleeper
    Martha Sleeper
    • Mary Gallagher
    Rhys Williams
    Rhys Williams
    • Dr. McKay
    Richard Tyler
    • Eddie Breen
    • (as Dickie Tyler)
    Una O'Connor
    Una O'Connor
    • Mrs. Breen
    Edward Coch Jr.
    • Baby Jesus
    • (uncredited)
    Aina Constant
    • Nun
    • (uncredited)
    Jimmy Crane
    • Luther
    • (uncredited)
    Gwen Crawford
    • Nun
    • (uncredited)
    Bobby Dolan Jr.
    • Bobby
    • (uncredited)
    Jimmie Dundee
    Jimmie Dundee
    • Cabbie
    • (uncredited)
    Bobby Frasco
    • Tommy Smith
    • (uncredited)
    Matt McHugh
    Matt McHugh
    • Sporting Goods Salesman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Leo McCarey
    • Writers
      • Dudley Nichols
      • Leo McCarey
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The production was overseen by a Catholic priest who served as an advisor during the shooting. While the final farewell sequence was being filmed, Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman decided to play a prank on him. They asked director Leo McCarey to allow one more take, and, as "Father O'Malley" and "Sister Benedict" said their last goodbyes, they embraced in a passionate kiss, while the off-screen priest/advisor jumped up roaring in protest.
    • Goofs
      Fr. O'Malley tells two nuns he grew up and went to school in Missouri. In "Going My Way" it was established he went to high school in East St. Louis, IL.
    • Quotes

      Sister Mary Benedict: You don't become a nun to run away from life, Patsy. It's not because you've lost something. It's because you've found something.

    • Alternate versions
      Also available in a computer colorized version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood: The Great Stars (1963)
    • Soundtracks
      Aren't You Glad You're You?
      Lyrics by Johnny Burke

      Music by Jimmy Van Heusen (as James Van Heusen)

    User reviews72

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    A slightly sugar-coated impression of Catholic education, but heartwarming
    I had often heard how this film was nominated for Best Picture and other important Academy Awards, so I was glad to see it on cable a few days ago. I was very pleased with it. The film builds up to quite an emotional, dramatic ending. There are some moments when Ingrid Bergman simply shines with a special radiance. Bing Crosby was excellent also, although I think he had many better songs to sing in his long career. The direction seems slow-paced at times, but in a way this measured pacing gives the audience a better chance to focus on the characters on the screen.

    The story certainly touched upon some important issues of Catholic education in the 1940's and 1950's. There were always fine attempts to help children from the other side of the tracks to prosper in a private school, with assistance of various kinds. The postwar population boom, however, led to huge numbers of children being educated as cheaply as possible in crowded, old, unsafe buildings. It was not uncommon to have 70 pupils in one classroom. In this film the nuns are relentlessly polite, but in real life they had to be very strict to control large classes. The picture refers to "fire traps" and the fact that St. Mary's School was about to be condemned. How ironic this was, for just 13 years later -- on December 1, 1958 -- a fire swept through the antiquated Our Lady of the Angels elementary school in Chicago, killing 92 children and three nuns. That tragic fire led to sweeping changes in building code laws and the modernization of thousands of schools across America, both public and private.
    helpful•30
    2
    • DennisJOBrien
    • Jun 21, 2005

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    FAQ1

    • Can I enjoy this film without having seen Going My Way?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 21, 1946 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
      • Swedish
    • Also known as
      • Leo McCarey's The Bells of St. Mary's
    • Filming locations
      • Tucson Mountains, Arizona, USA
    • Production company
      • Rainbow Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,333,333
    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,337,978
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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