Plot
The unconventional Father Charles "Chuck" O'Malley takes over the supervision of St. Mary's parish and its inner-city elementary school run by nuns, led by the strict but kind-hearted Mother superior, Sister Mary Benedict. She explains to Father O'Malley that St. Mary's had to sell the school playground to the grumpy Horace P. Bogardus, a local businessman and the chairman of the city council, to repair the dilapidated school building. The site of their former playground is now a modern building under construction next door to the school, with Sister Benedict hoping that Bogardus will donate the new building to the church.
Father O'Malley meets Bogardus, who warns him that if the church does not sell him the school building to use as a parking lot, he will have the city council condemn it. Father O'Malley is then approached by Mary Gallagher, who desperately wants to enroll her young daughter Patsy at St. Mary's. Mary recounts that 13 years earlier, her husband, musician Joe Gallagher, left for a gig in Cincinnati shortly after the wedding and never returned, leaving Mary to prostitute herself to support Patsy. The school takes Patsy in as a boarding student, but she struggles with her studies.
Although Father O'Malley and Sister Benedict work together to save the school, their different views and methods occasionally lead to mild disagreements. After a female student accidentally hits a baseball through Bogardus' window while Sister Benedict is teaching her how to swing a baseball bat, Sister Benedict comes over to apologize. As Bogardus takes the sister on a tour of his nearly completed building, she suggests that he donate it to the church, convincing him that his donation would be his great legacy. Later, a stressed Bogardus is advised by his physician, Dr. McKay, to rest.
Father O'Malley visits Mary and brings in Joe, whom he has located. As the couple happily reunites, Patsy arrives to show her graduation dress to Mary, but seeing her mother kiss Joe in the hallway, she assumes that he is a client and flees. When Patsy fails her exams, Father O'Malley tries to convince Sister Benedict to pass the girl anyway, but the sister refuses; despite sympathizing with Patsy, she insists that she must uphold the school's standards. Upon learning that she has failed, Patsy despondently returns her graduation dress.
When Sister Benedict suddenly falls ill, Dr. McKay insists on examining her in his office the next day. As Dr. McKay leaves, he discusses Bogardus' heart condition with Father O'Malley, who suggests that doing good deads can cure a bad heart. The next day, Father O'Malley encounters Bogardus, who is worried about his heart condition. Encouraged by Father O'Malley to perform good deeds, Bogardus gives a blind beggar money, saves a stray dog from being run over by cars, and helps an elderly woman onto her bus. While praying in a church, Bogardus is approached by Sister Benedict; seeking to abandon his selfish ways, he finally donates his new building to her, much to her delight.
Dr. McKay informs Father O'Malley that Sister Benedict has been diagnosed with early-stage tuberculosis and recommends that she should be temporarily transferred to a dry climate and relieved of her parochial duties. The doctor suggests keeping her condition secret from her to help her maintain a positive attitude, and Father O'Malley reluctantly agrees. As Sister Benedict enthusiastically oversees preparations for the new facility, Father O'Malley notifies her that she is being transferred, leaving her devastated.
On graduation day, Patsy confides in Sister Benedict that she deliberately failed her exams in order to stay another year at St. Mary's. As Father O'Malley introduces Patsy's parents to Sister Benedict, Patsy learns that the man she had seen kissing her mother is actually her father. Patsy and her mother share an emotional embrace, and Sister Benedict allows Patsy to graduate.
After the ceremony, Sister Benedict visits the chapel to pray for guidance. Just before she departs, Father O'Malley reveals her diagnosis to her. Sister Benedict happily thanks Father O'Malley and bids him farewell.
Reception
Box office
The Bells of St. Mary's earned receipts of $8 million in North America during its initial run, [6] [7] making it the highest-grossing film of 1945 in the United States.
The film made a profit of $3,715,000, making it the most profitable film in the history of RKO. [8] [9] Adjusted for inflation, it is the 57th highest-grossing film domestically of all time. [10]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 85% based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. [11]
Bosley Crowther of The New York Times felt that the film was too similar to Going My Way , and "although a plenteous and sometimes winning show, lacks the charm of its predecessor—and that comparison cannot be escaped." [12] The reviewer for Variety wrote: "Picture is packed with many simple scenes that tug at the heart and loosen the tears as directed by McCarey and played by the outstanding cast." [13] Harrison's Reports commented: "As in Going My Way, which he also wrote, produced, and directed, Leo McCarey has proved again that great pictures do not require pretentious stories ... The acting of the entire cast is excellent. Crosby delights one with his ease and natural charm, and Miss Bergman will undoubtedly rise to new heights of popularity because of the effective way in which she portrays her role." [14] John McCarten of The New Yorker wrote derisively: "Mr. McCarey seems to view the Roman Catholic Church, which is quite a formidable and venerable organization, as a kind of settlement house where good works and jollity provide a lively substitute for religion ... Everything, of course, turns out quite happily, except, perhaps, for those captious souls who regard religion as an adult matter." [15]
The Bells of St. Mary's placed fourth on The Film Daily 's year-end nationwide poll of 559 critics naming the best films of 1946. [16]
Accolades
At the Academy Awards, it won for Best Sound Recording (Stephen Dunn). It was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Bing Crosby), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Ingrid Bergman), Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, Best Music, Song (for Jimmy Van Heusen (music) and Johnny Burke (lyrics) for "Aren't You Glad You're You") and Best Picture. [17]
Bing Crosby's Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Father Chuck O'Malley made him the first actor in history to receive two nominations for portraying the same character in different films. This was following the previous year's nomination anomaly, where Barry Fitzgerald received nominations in both supporting and lead for the same film (as the same character), the prequel Going My Way. While he lost in lead to his co-star Crosby, Fitzgerald won for Best Supporting Actor. [18]
