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The Bells of St. Mary's
We watch The Bells of St. Mary's every year at Christmas. It's a tradition. I know that many think of it as just a corny, sentimental film. And on the surface it is a friendly, light-hearted movie that tugs at our heartstrings in not so subtle ways. The freewheeling Father O'Malley lands in a rundown parish opposite the more traditional Sister Benedict. However, it is much more than that as the themes are timeless. Hope, faith, love, spirituality, miracles, loss, illness, family, triumph and redemption are all explored. The hope of saving St. Mary's. The aging and ailing curmudgeon, Mr. Bogardis, his building, the dog and his redemption. The Sisters' irrational prayers that he'll give them his new building. Billy, the underdog, and Patsy, the forgotten child. The Sisters' close knit group as family. Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman are first rate. Crosby sings as only he can and Bergman's face, framed in the habit, is pure beauty. By the end, you realize the irony that they love each other. Although it was not originally made to be a Christmas movie, The Bells of St. Mary's fits the bill. You get what you need at Christmas: laughs, tears and the warmth of hope. What more could you ask for?

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ESSENTIAL in ANY collection
The first time I saw Leo McCarey's THE BELLS OF ST MARY'S was on Christmas Day of 2002 when it aired on TCM. I was blown away from the moment the Main Title rolled across the screen. I've always been a sucker for sentimental movies of the 40s (like MGM's MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME, both Judy Garland vehicles... btw, both have recently received beautiful DVD transfers; check them out), and ST MARY'S fits the bill to the "t". I picked up a copy of the DVD this past holiday season. I've seen the movie complete a number of times and never tire of watching it. This is the epitome of 40's motion picture entertainment.

An excellent cast turn in very praiseworthy performances. Bing Crosby is Father O'Malley. Crosby is the only actor ever to have been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar twice for the same role, having also played Father O'Malley in GOING MY WAY the previous year. Ingrid Bergman plays Sister Benedict, the Sister Superior of St. Mary's. Mr. Bogardus is played by Henry Travers... more famliarly known as Clarence from IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

The film earned eight Oscar nominations and won for Best Sound Recording.
Nominated for...
Best Actor (Crosby)
Best Acress (Bergman)
Direction (Leo McCarey)
Editing
Score of a dramatic/comedy picture (Robert Emmett Dolan)
Song (Aren't You Glad You're You)
Sound Recording
Best Picture

It's a shame ST MARY'S didn't walk away with more Oscars, this truly is a beautiful film and is necessary in any collection. Good for watching anytime, especailly when your spirit needs a lift.

The DVD transfer is outstanding. Picture is stable and clear throughout. Sound is crisp, with little distortion whatsoever. There is a theatrical trailer included, but no other extras. My only complaint about the DVD transfer... what is up with the gray bar at the bottom of the screen that appears at about the 2nd or 3rd page of the Main Title? It looks like it was digitally superimposed over the film to cover something up, but what and why?

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED in any collection. A classic.

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Bells of St Mary's Beware
If you buy this DVD expecting it to be the video on disc, you will be quite disappointed. Within the first five minutes you'll discover that a scene has been cut. I purchased this version as part of transitioning our holiday film collection to disc from video and I'm quite disappointed.