I hate to be a Scrooge (on today of all days) ... but I am a movie critic! Thanks to TCM (and my DVR) I sat down this Christmas morning to watch what I remembered to be a cherished Christmas movie from my childhood--'The Bells of St. Mary's' (1945) -- and when I stood-up, I wondered "what was I, as a ten-year-old, budding movie critic, thinking?!?" For, despite Ingrid Bergman's radiant portrayal of Sister Mary Benedict, this movie is a stinker!
[SPOILERS throughout.]
First of all, only a parts of the movie take place at Christmastime. (It ends on Graduation day). Not only does the screenplay consist of a series of unconnected vignettes (mostly enjoyable, like the boxing lesson pictured), but the pace of each scene is dreadfully slow. Both faults lie at the foot of Leo McCarey, who threw this picture together to capitalize on the success of his previous year's collaboration with Bing Crosby (the superior, Oscar-winning "Going My Way").
As evidence of the slapdash nature of the story, we are expected to believe that the evil developer next door (who is threatening to condemn the Catholic school to build a parking lot!), has a conversion after ONE VISIT to his doctor who, prompted by Der Bingle's suggestion, tells him only one thing can help his heart condition. The next thing you know, the nuns are moving the schooldesks next door! And do not get me started on that same doctor's paternalistic, negligent attitude toward his OTHER patient -- Sr. Mary Benedict -- who "can't know she has a life-threatening disease," for her own good, of course. That results in a convenient, emotional conflict between the two stars, that doesn't get resolved until the last scene.
The fact that the developer is played by the angelic character actor Henry Travers (Clarence from "It's a Wonderful Life"), is a constant reminder of how a classic Christmas movie should unfold.
As I was searching for an image to add to this post, the first Google hit I found was this one: Richard Corliss of TIME Magazine had this one pegged long before me!
