1944's "Going My Way" was a wispy-thin Oscar winner with only Barry Fitzgerald's adorable curmudgeon-ness to lift it out of sugary banality; this sequel drops Barry, so it shouldn't be of much use. However, director Leo McCarey actually pulls off a winner. Bing Crosby is back as Father O'Malley, and he's more human here than before, and his warm, witty battles with sister Ingrid Bergman are a delight (it helps that Bergman is possibly the most glowing, knowing, embraceable nun in Hollywood history!). Their smooth trials with the students and each other at St. Mary's have a seamless professionalism that, while not especially fresh, works the audience over with sheer good will. A sub-plot involving a troubled young girl (the excellent Joan Carroll) and her mother is a dandy heart-tugger, and the light music involved isn't such an obvious device as it was in "Going My Way"; the songs are there, but they're unobtrusive. A very good film, one that triumphs over its predecessor. Bing proves to be a solid actor here, not just a personality; he makes Father O'Malley a reachable character rather than just a holy rascal. Watch for his hesitation at the very end, and the thoughtfulness he gives to the scene. Admirably, Crosby gives back this time around. ***1/2 from ****

In this sequel (though written first) to "Going My Way", everyone's favorite genial priest (Bing Crosby) is off to another parish to do good. This time, it's to a poor parish with a school that is in jeopardy of being closed. Can Bing charm everyone once again, solve all the problems AND manage to make Jews, Agnostics and Protestants not feel terribly uncomfortable?!

"The Bells of St. Mary's" is an enjoyable film, I am not denying that. However, if you look at its score on IMDb, you'd think it's about as good as its predecessor, "Going My Way"--well, it clearly isn't. There are so many reasons I prefer "Going My Way" and I fortunately was able to see both films only a couple weeks apart, so my memory of each is clear. First, the music in the first film is much better--and even had an Oscar-winning tune. While I didn't watch either for the music, this is clearly better. Second, I think the dynamic between Barry Fitzgerald and Bing Crosby was better, as they were such opposite personalities. However, apart from a few minor differences, Ingrid Bergman and Crosby were practically members of each others' fan club--at least through the first 2/3 of the film. And, finally, the heart of my "The Bells" disappointed me was the unnecessary and completely contrived conflict that was tossed into their relationship near the never end of the film--plus it really made no sense at all. Bergman is diagnosed with TB and the Doctor tells Crosby to move her to an easier job (that makes sense) and NOT tell her she is sick (what?!)--causing conflict that really should NOT have been there! It was unnecessary and really silly. As a result, while I recommend it, my recommendation is lukewarm and you do NOT need to see this if you've seen the first film. Good...not great.

Leo McCarey and Bing Crosby had such a mega-hit on their hands with Going My Way that a sequel in this case really was inevitable. If The Bells of St.Mary's does not quite hit the heights of Going My Way it's got nothing to apologize for. One thing that I do like about it is that you don't have to have watched Going My Way to get into the spirit of this.

Bing repeated his Father O'Malley character and in doing so got a second Oscar nomination. Until Al Pacino was nominated for Michael Corleone in both Godfathers One and Two, Crosby was the only performer ever to have been nominated twice for the same role. Because of Father O'Malley, Bing Crosby became probably the most well known Catholic lay person on the planet. And for better or worse it's the Crosby that is remembered when the knives came out for him after he died.

With Ingrid Bergman the damage was more immediate. Today if you asked the average movie goer to quickly name the part Bergman is best known for it would be Ilsa Lund from Casablanca. Back in the late 40s however the answer would be Sister Benedict. How a Swede who is identified as Swedish in the film could be a Catholic, let alone a nun is a mystery to me. But that's how good an actress Ingrid Bergman was. She became the personification of holiness so when Ingrid Bergman announced she was pregnant with Roberto Rosellini's child the reaction of the public was swift and terrible. Banish her from Hollywood and she was. Such is the power of the mass media. Consider folks like Errol Flynn and Robert Mitchum who had reputations as hell-raisers before scandal hit them. Such is the power of the silver screen and the images it creates.

Bing has some good songs here, he sings the title tune with different lyrics for the screen then for his record. It's the school anthem and he sings it with a chorus of nuns to back him. Those nuns do sing well and in key. I wonder if it was the inspiration for Sister Act.

Crosby also has two of his patented philosophical numbers, Aren't You Glad You're You and In The Land Of Beginning Again. And in keeping with the nature of the film, he sings Adeste Fideles and O Sanctissima.

Among the supporting cast I would single out Joan Carroll as the girl boarding with the convent housekeeper and Martha Sleeper as her mother. Sleeper had both looks and talent, she should have had a bigger career.

The Bells of St. Mary's is what we would deem fine family entertainment. It's also how the Catholic Church likes to see itself. It's a milestone movie for the careers of its stars. But what a cost.