The Bells of St. Mary's

1945

Action / Drama

16
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 77% · 20 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 77% · 5K ratings
IMDb Rating 7.2/10 10 10443 10.4K

nun priest school black and white church catholic

Plot summary

Father O'Malley is sent to St. Mary's, a run-down parochial school on the verge of condemnation. He and Sister Benedict work together in an attempt to save the school, though their differing methods often lead to good-natured disagreements.

Director

Leo McCarey Photo
Leo McCarey

Top cast

Minerva Urecal Photo
Minerva Urecal as Landlady
Joan Carroll Photo
Joan Carroll as Patricia 'Patsy' Gallagher
Henry Travers Photo
Henry Travers as Horace P. Bogardus
Georgie Nokes Photo
Georgie Nokes as (uncredited)
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
1.05 GB
988*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 6 min
Seeds 1
1.93 GB
1472*1072
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 6 min
Seeds 12

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by moonspinner55 8 / 10

"Just dial O..." this time for Outstanding

1944's "Going My Way" was a wispy-thin Oscar winner with only Barry Fitzgerald's adorable curmudgeon-ness to lift it out of sugary banality; this sequel drops Barry, so it shouldn't be of much use. However, director Leo McCarey actually pulls off a winner. Bing Crosby is back as Father O'Malley, and he's more human here than before, and his warm, witty battles with sister Ingrid Bergman are a delight (it helps that Bergman is possibly the most glowing, knowing, embraceable nun in Hollywood history!). Their smooth trials with the students and each other at St. Mary's have a seamless professionalism that, while not especially fresh, works the audience over with sheer good will. A sub-plot involving a troubled young girl (the excellent Joan Carroll) and her mother is a dandy heart-tugger, and the light music involved isn't such an obvious device as it was in "Going My Way"; the songs are there, but they're unobtrusive. A very good film, one that triumphs over its predecessor. Bing proves to be a solid actor here, not just a personality; he makes Father O'Malley a reachable character rather than just a holy rascal. Watch for his hesitation at the very end, and the thoughtfulness he gives to the scene. Admirably, Crosby gives back this time around. ***1/2 from ****
Reviewed by moonspinner55 8 / 10

"Just dial O..." this time for Outstanding

1944's "Going My Way" was a wispy-thin Oscar winner with only Barry Fitzgerald's adorable curmudgeon-ness to lift it out of sugary banality; this sequel drops Barry, so it shouldn't be of much use. However, director Leo McCarey actually pulls off a winner. Bing Crosby is back as Father O'Malley, and he's more human here than before, and his warm, witty battles with sister Ingrid Bergman are a delight (it helps that Bergman is possibly the most glowing, knowing, embraceable nun in Hollywood history!). Their smooth trials with the students and each other at St. Mary's have a seamless professionalism that, while not especially fresh, works the audience over with sheer good will. A sub-plot involving a troubled young girl (the excellent Joan Carroll) and her mother is a dandy heart-tugger, and the light music involved isn't such an obvious device as it was in "Going My Way"; the songs are there, but they're unobtrusive. A very good film, one that triumphs over its predecessor. Bing proves to be a solid actor here, not just a personality; he makes Father O'Malley a reachable character rather than just a holy rascal. Watch for his hesitation at the very end, and the thoughtfulness he gives to the scene. Admirably, Crosby gives back this time around. ***1/2 from ****
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