The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)

94% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(6,800 ratings)

In this follow-up to director Leo McCarey's Going My Way (1944), Bing Crosby repeats his Oscar-winning characterization of happy-go-lucky priest Father O'Malley. The good father is sent to help out financially strapped St. Mary's Academy, a parochial school presided over by lovely nun Sister… More In this follow-up to director Leo McCarey's Going My Way (1944), Bing Crosby repeats his Oscar-winning characterization of happy-go-lucky priest Father O'Malley. The good father is sent to help out financially strapped St. Mary's Academy, a parochial school presided over by lovely nun Sister Benedict (Ingrid Bergman). The film is constructed in anecdotal fashion: Nun and priest gently quarrel over teaching methods; they help patch up the tottering marriage of William Gargan and Martha Sleeper; Sister Benedict plays baseball and teaches a student how to box; Father O'Malley softens the heart of the man who holds the mortgage (Henry Travers) by convincing the poor fellow that he's only got a few months to live; and the kids of St. Mary's put on a much-revised stage version of the Nativity, complete with a chorus of "Happy Birthday" on the occasion of the Virgin Birth. A huge hit at the box office, Bells of St. Mary's was nominated for nine Academy Awards. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 6 min.
Directed By: Leo McCarey
Written By: Leo McCarey, Dudley Nichols
Genres: Drama, Kids & Family, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 27, 1945 Limited
On DVD: Sep 23, 2003
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
As Sister Benedict, Ingrid Bergman manages to combine beauty, great good humor and saintly dignity even while swinging a baseball bat.
Variety Staff, Variety
[Bergman's] clashes with Crosby...are moments that will have an audience alternately laughing and sniffling.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Seldom has a sequel so completely transcended its predecessor.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Though the various irregular pieces of this movie make it one of McCarey's least satisfying movies on an artistic level, it's totally understandable as to why it's his most popular.
Scott G. Mignola, Common Sense Media
A classic of faith and values.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Before singing nuns, there were singing priests, such as Bing Crosby as Father O'Malley in Leo McCarey's charming sequel that's better (and was more popular at the box-office) than the original, the 1944 Oscar-winner Going My Way.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Only a nitch less entertaining than 'Going My Way,' but Ingrid Bergman's nun helps in the balance.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Winsome and highly commercial sequel to Going My Way.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Touchingly sentimental, but strong in all the right places.
Tom Milne, Time Out
Rambling [and] embarrassingly winsome...
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Good cast, good direction, but not near its parent film.
, Film4
Dripping with sentiment, but who cares when you've got Bergman as the singing nun?

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Chris W

This is the story of an easy going priest and a firm nun who try to put their differences aside in order to save a financially strapped parochial school from closing due to the hardheartedness of a stuffy businessman who has the building's mortgage. The story isn't really… More
This is the story of an easy going priest and a firm nun who try to put their differences aside in order to save a financially strapped parochial school from closing due to the hardheartedness of a stuffy businessman who has the building's mortgage. The story isn't really anything new or original, but it's still pretty decently done. It's actually rather loose plotwise, and is very episodic in nature, often being playing fast and loose with the timeline. The script could have been a tad stronger, but this is made up by some decent direction, good cinematogrpahy, and some wonderful performances. Bing Crosby is the type of guy who you really can't find a reason to hate. He's just too damn nice and loveable. Same goes for his character. He plays the type of priest I'd love to hang out with in real life. He's easy going and fun, but he's also got hius heart in the right place, and really cares. Ingrid Bergman is too attractive to be a realistic nun, but her performance is terrific, and she's (looks aside) convincing as the stern nun who begins to soften and become more understanding. Henry Travers is also good, if slightly underused as the old fudddyduddy businessman. I'm fine with having several different plotlines going on, I just wish that the main one wasn't introduced, then mostly shelved for a while before making an appearance again. More balance with the stories would have made for a more focused and tighter film. That aside, this one's pretty solid. All in all, this is a difficult film to not enjoy. It's got a bit of everything: comedy, drama, singing, stories of hope, redemption, forgiveness, and a heavy coating of charm and innocence. I'm not sure if I just really like or possibly even love it. I'll just be fair and give it at least a 4. I definitely recommend giving this a watch though.
AJ V

A very nice movie (sequel to Going My Way) with Crosby as a priest again helping Bergman, a nun, and her school. It's not just a drama with Crosby singing his songs, it's also pretty funny. It's enjoyable for the whole family.
Donna D

Great movie with Ingrid Bergman and Bing Cosby. Funny and charming, the movie is a wonderful classic.