bellsstmarys

Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman is a rather unlikely pairing to be sure. But with “The Bells of St.
Mary’s,” the priest and nun combination seemed to find the perfect fit for them. The movie is about
as unlikely a situation as could be conceived, but the story isn’t meant to be realistic, it’s meant to
be idealistic and heartwarming.

Crosby reprises his role as Father O’Malley from the original film, “Going My Way.” This time, he’s
been assigned to St. Mary’s where he is taking over for a priest who apparently just couldn’t take
the strain of being with the nuns who ran the middle school. Their leader is Sister Benedict, played
by Bergman. Immediately, O’Malley and Benedict don’t see exactly eye to eye on how to inspire
children and what the priorities should be in the classroom, but both agree that they need a new
building for the children.

Next door, Henry Travers is Horace P. Bogardus, a local Scrooge who is putting the finishing
touches on a new building he wants to turn into a convention center. He wants to tear down the
ramshackle St. Mary’s and build a parking lot. Benedict hopes and prays he will donate the
building to the school. Bogardus wants the kids to up and move to another school. O’Malley
stands in the middle, trying to gentle coax both sides into harmony.

The portrayal of the nuns and the priest is, in my opinion, highly idealized. If I had a nun teacher
like Bergman when I was going to St. Bernard’s Academy I would have been President of the United
States by now. Alas, I had some real nuns and they were never, not even on their best days,
anywhere near as kind and agreeable as Bergman and crew here. The same goes for priests.
O’Malley is a cool guy. The priests that taught me at my Catholic high school should take a few
notes from ol’ Bing.

What is revealing in a positive fashion about this movie are the revelations about what was valued
back then versus the stringent society we live in now. In the movie, a fight between two boys
breaks out on the playground. Unlike today, there are no suing parents or zero tolerance policies,
no suspensions or expulsions. Instead, the victimized boy trains with a little encouragement from
Benedict so the next time he can defend himself on the playground. In my opinion, a positive
message versus the tendency today to repress the emotions of youth now only to suffer school
shootings down the line in high schools.

“The Bells of St. Mary’s” is a glossy ideal, not a depiction of complete reality, but it is a glimpse of
what life was like in World War II America, before the postwar years, and I must say even the
general impression it gives is better than any ideal image of the modern culture of the United States.

With interesting subplots, touching relationships and upstanding characters, “The Bells of St.
Mary’s” is as meaningful now as it was in 1945 if you're willing to look hard enough and reflect on
our world today.