My Top 9 Favorite Christmas Movies: The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)

"The Bells of St. Mary's" isn't necessarily a Christmas film, but is often clumped into the holiday genre with a short Christmas pageant being rehearsed for the film's stars, Ingrid Bergman as Sister Mary Benedict and Bing Crosby in his returning character of Father "Chuck" O'Malley. Crosby reprises his role from the hit of 1944, "Going My Way" playing once more the good natured but street smart priest who knows how to change people's lives. When in "Going My Way" he assists in the reunion of a father and daughter, O'Malley serendiptiously brings together a struggling mother and the father of her child and by extension, the preteen (Joan Carroll) herself.

Although both Sister Mary Benedict and Father O'Malley are not without their differences, they both know St. Mary's Parish and the attached inner-city school is close to being shut down and condemned. From her surroundings, Mary begins to unknowingly contract tuberculosis as the "enemy" (that adorable mushroom Henry Travers best known as Clarence in "It's a Wonderful Life") begins to make his move in turning the property into apartment buildings. The Nun and Priest continue their friendly rivalry through this adversity, O'Malley helping the Gallghers and Sister Mary helping a little boy conquer his bullies by teaching him how to box. 

It would seem to be complete happenstance at the 1944 Academy Awards that would glue "The Bells of St. Mary's" to a greater destiny. Already in the early process of filming around award season in 1944, Crosby and McCarey won for their respective categories for "Going My Way" and Bergman winning for Best Actress for "Gaslight." In her acceptance speech, Bergman teased "I'm particularly glad to get it this time because tomorrow I go to work in a picture with Mr. Crosby and Mr. McCarey, and I'm afraid that if I went on the set without an award, neither of them would speak to me!" Bergman would also be nominated for her role in "...St. Mary's" which was inspired by McCarey's aunt, Sister Mary Benedict of the Immaculate Heart Convent in Hollywood, CA. Other nominations included accolades for Crosby and McCarey as well as Best Film Editing, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, Best Music, Song, and Best Picture. It would win the Academy Award for Best Sound, Recording. 

"The Bells of St. Mary's" would end up becoming the 50th highest grossing film of all time, bringing in 8 million from North America alone. According to Box Office Mojo, it brought an adjusted gross of 523,294,199 dollars just barely preceding "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" and "Finding Nemo." The New York Times, while a harsh critic, offered nothing but praise to Ingrid Bergman's role as "exquisitely serene, radiantly beautiful and soft spoken ... And there are moments [...] in which she glows with a tenderness and warmth."

Interesting Links to Check Out

Movie Review - - THE SCREEN - NYTimes.com

All Time Box Office Adjusted for Ticket Price Inflation

The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) - Articles - TCM.com

The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) - Notes - TCM.com