Wordiezett So much average

SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Ceticultsot Beautiful, moving film.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Maddyclassicfilms The Miracle of the Bells is directed by Irving Pichel, is based on the novel by Russell Janney and stars Fred MacMurray, Alida Valli, Frank Sintra and Lee J. Cobb.Fred MacMurray plays Bill Dunnigan, a Hollywood press agent who brings the body of a young actress called Olga Treskovna (Alida Valli)back to her home town for burial. He befriends the town Priest (Frank Sinatra) and tells him all about Olga and the film about Joan of Arc which she was making before her death.As a publicity stunt to make sure her death does not go unnoticed Dunnigan persuades local churches to ring their bells constantly in the days leading up to Olga's funeral. This generates a great deal of publicity and the news makes national papers.I've never been a fan of Valli but she is excellent in this. I really thought she was good in the scene where she auditions for the role of Joan. Her performance really comes from the heart throughout this film and it shows, she's so natural and full of feelings.MacMurray is good as the man who realises too late his feelings for Olga. Sinatra is quite different from the tough characters he usually played and comes across as gentle and devoted to the people he serves.Lee J. Cobb provides strong support as a film producer who has to decide whether or not to release Joan of Arc following the death of the lead star.A really good film and you find yourself wondering if a real miracle has occurred at one point in the film. A beautiful film filled with fine performances that should be better known today.

bfp13108 This movie is a real tear-jerker. I first saw it in 1969 or 70. I cried then and I cried today as I watched it. I thought Valli's performance was spot-on for the audition of Joan of Arc but I remember Valli having a much more authentic performance of the cross burning scene during the filming of the Joan of Arc story. I also thought that the turning of the statues happened much earlier in the film but that can be easily dismissed as the fading memories that accompany age.Valli, (God rest her soul) turns in a stellar performance. One of Fred MacMurray's top performances, right up there with Double Indemnity. I thought Frank Sinatra's performance was good. No doubt, it may have been great if he were given a more dramatic role and additional lines/screen time. Lee J Cobb, what can I say - he always seemed to portray the same character, but better than anyone else could have done. I don't blame atheists for easily dismissing the film nor devout Christians reading more into it then what it represents. My personal thoughts are that the film "Miracle of the Bells" shows us that we, even as the most humble human beings, can do much more than we dream is possible to create a better world - a better humanity.

web14 Having viewed Miracle of the Bells at least 20 times, I still get inspired by its central theme, that the world is a good place and we can each make it a little better. What many "Bells" viewers might not know is that the (Alida) Vali role is based on a historical person named Olga Treskovna who came from Northeastern Pennsylvania. Some exteriors and rear-screen projection scenes were shot in and around Glen Lyon and Nanticoke, PA (where much of the action takes place). The real Olga Treskovna is buried in St. Michael's Cemetery (of course the Parish cemetery of St. Michael's Church which has recently been razed.) The real statue of St. Michael, however, is at this writing still in the church yard. After more than half a century, it's still an inspirational movie with great performances from Lee J. Cobb, Fred Mac Murray and Vali despite several warts of weak acting here and there by others.

bkoganbing If you get a chance check out the post I left on Helen Burgess's page on this site. Helen Burgess was a young contract player for Paramount who made four films. One of them was Cecil B. DeMille's The Plainsman where she played the second lead female role as Louisa Frederici Cody under Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur, and James Ellison. She died of pneumonia at the age of 19 as the film was being released. This would have been a breakout role for her and she might have had a long screen career.I'm sure that the creators of this film had Helen Burgess in mind when they made it. It's good in spots, I like the performances of Fred MacMurray, Alida Valli, Lee J. Cobb and Philip Ahn which another reviewer very correctly singled out. I guess since Bing Crosby made such a hit as a priest Frank Sinatra had to try it. He lays one big omelet as Father Paul. He had to wait until Meet Danny Wilson for a part he could carry on acting as well as singing.This film was also made in the days of John L. Lewis as head of the United Mine Workers. One of the big issues for that union was the pollution that caused the premature deaths of a lot of their members and families. In that sense Miracle of the Bells was a very socially relevant movie for its time and even today.