The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) - November 2013 and 2019

[Akijama]

The Bells of St. Mary's Blu-ray Signature edition Nov 26, 2019



The Bells of St. Mary's Blu-ray

Witty, heartwarming and one of the most beloved classics of all time, The Bells of St. Mary's delivers all the entertainment of its predecessor, the award winning Going My Way. Bing Crosby recreates his Oscar-winning (Best Actor) role as parish priest Father O'Malley. The easy-going O'Malley is sent to revive a financially ailing parochial school and immediately finds himself at odds with no-nonsense Sister Benedict (Ingrid Bergman, Arch of Triumph) on how to educate the children. Beyond their delightful battle of wits lies a bigger problem--the skinflint businessman next door (Henry Travers, It's A Wonderful Life) wants St. Mary's condemned, so he can build a parking lot for his employees. Only a miracle can save St. Mary's now - how a devilish situation finds a heavenly solution remains to be seen in this captivating family classic that was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. Directed by Leo McCarey (Going My Way, My Son John).

Courtesy of Olive Films

[Pirate King]

Wow. This is unexpected. Wonderful Film. I will certainly add it to my collection. Bergman... Crosby... They don't make them like this anymore.

[OAXACA]

Can't wait to watch this for the first time

[pwilson794]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Courtesy of Olive Films

yay!

[Blades1370]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Courtesy of Olive Films

Strange that this title is coming out, but "Going My Way".... nothing.

[Skorpius]

Awesome! Definitely need Going My Way now.

[Arkadin]

my mom's favorite movie to watch at x-mas.
now my favorite also; along with Holiday Inn.
Bing is the man when it comes to X-mas films in my book.

[septimus]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

my mom's favorite movie to watch at x-mas.

I haven't thought about it in ages, but my mom loves this movie, too. I remember her old VHS copy getting a lot of play. This will be an easy Christmas present.

[moviebuff75]

One of the great holiday films. In my top five. LOVE that it's coming to Blu-ray.

[Paul H]

Hope Olive Films does a pristine authoring job for The Bells of St. Mary's , a classic on Blu-ray. Want to get this and another Christmas movie released on Nov 5. The Bishop's Wife 1947.
Two Christmas classics to look forward to in November!

[LimeiBook86]

This is very funny, I just made a DVD out of the VHS for my Father... and now this is announced. Good gift idea for him this December !

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Blades1370

Strange that this title is coming out, but "Going My Way".... nothing.

Well, "Bells" was originally supposed to be the first Father O'Malley movie, and "Going My Way" the sequel, just that Paramount reversed the release order in theaters.

(Basically, during the wartime 40's, everyone retreated from headlines by saying that all the problems of the world could be solved if everyone just went to the Church Of Their Own Denomination every week--
The two movies were basically "Touched By An Angel" commercials for how mean-people get their problems solved by going to church again...And see, big-city Catholic churches aren't harsh, conservative and scary; Bing's a priest, and he's fun! He even gets Sister Ingrid to have fun, too! )

[dommie]

Great news. This film, along with the Alistair Sim Scrooge, the original Miracle on 34th Street, and It's a Wonderful Life which are all out on Blu-ray, are annual screenings for us during the Christmas Season. Just need Going My Way, also an annual viewing, to be on Blu to complete the holiday viewings.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by Blades1370

Strange that this title is coming out, but "Going My Way".... nothing.

Going My Way is with Universal as part of their acquisition of pre-50's Paramount titles. Going My Way was such a hit that director/producer Leo McCarey made enough money on it to produce The Bells of St. Mary's as an independent production, distributed by RKO. The Bells of St. Mary's, along with McCarey's similarly independent films Good Sam and My Son John, eventually made its way to the Republic library.

[Blades1370]

Originally Posted by captveg

Going My Way is with Universal as part of their acquisition of pre-50's Paramount titles. Going My Way was such a hit that director/producer Leo McCarey made enough money on it to produce The Bells of St. Mary's as an independent production, distributed by RKO. The Bells of St. Mary's, along with McCarey's similarly independent films Good Sam and My Son John, eventually made its way to the Republic library.

Oh yay, Universal owns the rights to this one. *Note: HEAVY sarcasm*

[JMK]

The Bells of St. Mary's Blu-ray Review

[slm]

If they were going to release a 75th anniversary edition for this in 2020, do you think we would have heard about it already? I'm debating buying the current edition (which apparently has some video issues)... or waiting.

[lilboyblu]

Originally Posted by slm

If they were going to release a 75th anniversary edition for this in 2020, do you think we would have heard about it already? I'm debating buying the current edition (which apparently has some video issues)... or waiting.

Arrow Academy just dropped a new version this week. Per the listing on Zavvi, it’s from a Paramount 4K restoration.

Description
After triumphing at the Academy Awards® (including wins for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor) with the 1944 box office smash Going My Way, director Leo McCarey (Duck Soup) and star Bing Crosby immediately collaborated on the equally successful follow-up, The Bells of St Mary s, presented here in a heavenly 4K restoration.

Father Chuck O Malley (Crosby) is dispatched to fix up an inner-city parochial school on its last legs, and his easygoing, unconventional demeanour instantly clashes with that of the firm, no-nonsense Sister Superior Mary Benedict (Ingrid Bergman, fresh off winning the Best Actress Oscar® for Gaslight), who is keeping the school open through sheer will and faith alone. Over the course of the school year, the pair bicker and ultimately bond over their differing visions on how to save the school and the role a miserly businessman (Henry Travers, It s A Wonderful Life) who wants the building condemned might play in doing so.

A blockbuster crowdpleaser on its release, The Bells of St Mary s remains just as affecting today, thanks to McCarey s directorial light touch, Crosby s laidback charisma and iconic singing voice, and Bergman s radiant charm, all of which earned them well-deserved Oscar® nominations.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:

4K restoration of the film from Paramount
High Definition Blu-rayTM (1080p) presentation
Original lossless mono audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Up to His Neck in Nuns, an all-new visual essay by David Cairns
Analysing O Malley, a newly filmed appreciation by chaplain and film academic Revd Dr Steve Nolan
You Can Change The World, a 30-minute promotional film for ""The Christophers"" from 1949 directed by McCarey and featuring appearances from Crosby, Bob Hope, Irene Dunne, William Holden and Jack Benny, presented in high definition
Two Screen Guild Theater radio adaptations starring Crosby and Bergman, plus an additional radio featurette
Re-release theatrical trailer
Image gallery
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jennifer Dionisio
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Fully illustrated booklet containing new writing on the film by Ronald Bergen

[JEDGAR1000]

^ Glad to see another release for it, as the US one doesn't have English subtitles.

[slm]

Originally Posted by lilboyblu

[Show spoiler]Arrow Academy just dropped a new version this week. Per the listing on Zavvi, it’s from a Paramount 4K restoration.

Thank-you so much for taking the time to reply and post all that!! I didn't search international, so I missed the listing. I don't have a region free player yet (despite having a few region B movies), so this may be the time to get one.