IMDb RATING
7.2/10
8.7K
YOUR RATING
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.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 6 wins & 8 nominations total
Richard Tyler
- Eddie Breen
- (as Dickie Tyler)
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
- Cabbie
- (uncredited)
Bobby Frasco
- Tommy Smith
- (uncredited)
Matt McHugh
- Sporting Goods Salesman
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe 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.
- GoofsFr. 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 versionsAlso available in a computer colorized version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood: The Great Stars (1963)
Featured review
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.
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•302
- DennisJOBrien
- Jun 21, 2005
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Leo McCarey's The Bells of St. Mary's
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $21,333,333
- Gross worldwide
- $21,337,978
- Runtime2 hours 6 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer