I watched this last night, after not having seen it in decades. I vaguely remembered a plot about getting a building for a Catholic school, and remembering it as more of a Christmas movie, so I was surprised at there only being snow in about five minutes of the film. It's the little touches that Crosby, Bergman, and director McCarey put in that make this film endearing. There's a sly line by Father O'Malley (Crosby) when Sis. Benedict (Bergman) calls on a student to recite: "Luther? How'd HE get in here?" There's another little bit involving a kitten who gets into O'Malley's straw hat while he's making an introductory speech to the nuns which is absolutely hilarious! And the adlibbed children's Nativity play is totally heartwarming in its honest simplicity, in an age when churches now try to play "can you top this?" with overproduced Christmas spectaculars. (A side note: today's viewers might be a bit taken aback that the Pledge of Allegiance as recited by the students omits the words "under God". That was a reflection of the times, not of "liberal Hollywood". The film was produced in 1945; the words "under God" would not be added for another eight years as a post-war reaction to the rise of Communism. The recitation of the Pledge in the film is a verbatim reflection of the way every school child in America said it in 1945.)

this is the sequel and more famous cousin to Going my Way.Bing Crosby reprises his role of Father O'Malley.Ingrid Bergman co-stars.this movie is much deeper than it's predecessor,and has a much better,stronger story.Crosby and Bergman are both brilliant here.the story has some very touching moments.i welled up a few times.there are strong themes of hope and faith and miracles here,and the human spirit.wheres there are a quite a few lighter,comedic moments in Going my Way,there aren't that many here.it's much more serious in tone.i don't know if Bergman and/or Crosby won academy awards for their portrayals,but they give award worthy performance.the movie does feel a bit long and there are some slow moments,but overall,i liked it.i give The Bells of St. Mary's a 6/10

I was mainly interested in this film because the lead actor, singer of "White Christmas", won an Oscar for playing this character (in the film Going My Way), and it was apparently really popular at the cinemas, and it being number 20 on The Ultimate Film certainly proves that. Oscar nominated Bing Crosby reprises his role as Father Chuck O'Malley, the unconventional priest, who is sent to St. Mary's Catholic school on the verge of condemnation. O'Malley and principal Sister Mary Benedict (Golden Globe winning, and Oscar nominated Ingrid Bergman) work together both with the children in all their situations, e.g. fights, Christmas plays, passing grades, especially young Patricia 'Patsy' Gallagher (Joan Carroll), but they also work to save the school. Of course O'Malley and the Sister have their good-natured disagreements, but they both make sure all the kids, particularly smart Patsy make the best of their time at the school. I should mention the only person of helping them save the school, self confessed grumpy guy Horace P. Bogardus (It's a Wonderful Life's Henry Travers) does eventually change his ways, and agrees with his newfound kindness to help them. Also starring Martha Sleeper as Mary Gallagher (Patsy's mother), William Gargan as Joe Gallagher (Patsy's father), Ruth Donnelly as Sister Michael, Richard Tyler as Eddie Breen, Una O'Connor as Mrs. Breen and Rhys Williams as Dr. McKay. It won the Oscar for Best Sound, and it was nominated for Best Director for Leo McCarey (Duck Soup, An Affair to Remember), Best Film Editing, Best Song for "Aren't You Glad You're You", Best Music for Robert Emmett Dolan and Best Picture. It was number 20 on The Ultimate Film. Good!

I've always said that had BOSM been the prequel to GMW, the former would have been more deserving of top honors in '44. Bing Crosby had been in pictures since 1930 and was enjoying unparalleled popularity (before or since), at the time, so the h'wood powers that be must have said, "well, why not...let's give ol' Bing an Oscar". In so doing, bing pulled in Mccarey and Fitzgerald also. GMW's sequel, BOSM, was more deserving of the Oscars, but didn't garner any. Ingrid Bergman gave a great performance as a nun (as in any part, she looked stunning). She should have won the Oscar, instead of Joan Crawford in "Mildred Pierce", a dreadfully shallow film. Someone asked how a swede could be a catholic nun, Sweden being totally lutheran. Mccarey did take some license here, but after all, she could have converted. Another license Mccarey took was Fr. O'malley's being sent from St. Louis, in both films, all the way to new york to work there. the catholic church really doesn't work like that. But, with such licenses, one must overlook them unless they are gross. Bing would have been hard pressed to beat out Ray Milland (Lost Weekend); so, in retrospect, it was good he did get top honors in '44. The supporting cast was miles better than GMW's, Henry Travers, Martha Sleeper, Rhys Williams, Una O'connor, Bill Gargan (he really didn't have much of a part here), and the child actors. The songs were pretty good, esp. the title song, Fr. Bing giving them his characteristic effortless renditions. Some reviewer at the time thought he noticed that Bing and Ingrid, such titanic personalities in the one movie, could be easily imagined to wink at each other in their scenes together. He was probably right. A thoroughly enjoyable film.