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A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The Miracle of the Bells is directed by Irving Pichel, is based on the novel by Russell Janney and stars Fred MacMurray, Alida Valli, Frank Sintra and Lee J. Cobb.Fred MacMurray plays Bill Dunnigan, a Hollywood press agent who brings the body of a young actress called Olga Treskovna (Alida Valli)back to her home town for burial. He befriends the town Priest (Frank Sinatra) and tells him all about Olga and the film about Joan of Arc which she was making before her death.As a publicity stunt to make sure her death does not go unnoticed Dunnigan persuades local churches to ring their bells constantly in the days leading up to Olga's funeral. This generates a great deal of publicity and the news makes national papers.I've never been a fan of Valli but she is excellent in this. I really thought she was good in the scene where she auditions for the role of Joan. Her performance really comes from the heart throughout this film and it shows, she's so natural and full of feelings.MacMurray is good as the man who realises too late his feelings for Olga. Sinatra is quite different from the tough characters he usually played and comes across as gentle and devoted to the people he serves.Lee J. Cobb provides strong support as a film producer who has to decide whether or not to release Joan of Arc following the death of the lead star.A really good film and you find yourself wondering if a real miracle has occurred at one point in the film. A beautiful film filled with fine performances that should be better known today.

Lovelorn press agent Fred MacMurray (as William "Bill" Dunnigan) accompanies the body of Hollywood movie star Alida Valli (as Olga Trocki) to her hometown of Coaltown, Pennsylvania. The exotically beautiful Polish stage actress filmed only the spectacular "Joan of Arc" before expiring from tuberculosis. Valli had specific requests for her funeral, but Mr. MacMurray finds it difficult to make the arrangements. While he is trying, MacMurray has a series of flashbacks which detail the actress' short career. Oddly, Valli is no stand-out when we meet her in a chorus line. She wears heavy black pants while the other dancing girls look sexy kicking up their heels in short-shorts. Valli, we're told, as two left feet...A temperamental star gives producer Lee J. Cobb (as Marcus Harris) a hard time, which gives stand-in Valli her big break. Everyone is stunned by the unknown's perfect performance as "Joan of Arc". MacMurray is in love, but tragedy waits in the wings...In the present, MacMurray gets sympathy and religions counsel from singing priest Frank Sinatra (as Father Paul). After an initial creepiness, Father Sinatra becomes tolerable. Still, his line delivery is ripe with aimless lethargy. You wouldn't want your children left alone with him. Valli is Garbo-like, but doesn't reach the tortured eroticism of the great tragediennes. Granted, approaching both Garbo's "Camille" and Falconetti's "Joan" is an acting feat that may never be achieved. MacMurray is undistinguished, but director Irving Pichel gets him to shine in a couple of instances; the introductory train station scene is nicely staged, and MacMurray emotes very well after Valli dies. The production looks nice in black-and-white.***** The Miracle of the Bells (1948-03-16) Irving Pichel ~ Fred MacMurray, Alida Valli, Frank Sinatra, Lee J. Cobb

MIRACLE OF THE BELLS is often thought of as a Christmas movie because of a memorable Christmas Eve scene that occurs early in the film and because of the religious and spiritual themes present throughout. Not your standard Yuletide chestnut by any means, MIRACLE is a film of seriousness and substance that just occasionally feels weighted down by its earnest intentions. Alida Valli plays a young actress who rises from humble beginnings in a Pennsylvania coal mining town to become a sort of messiah-like figure for "her people" (her health is also doomed from having inhaled coal dust as a child). Fred MacMurray is the Hollywood Press agent who gives her a boost on the ladder of success in and falls in love with her in the process.MacMurray is his genial and likable best, and the Italian-born Valli (THE THIRD MAN) is luminous. The film is worth seeing alone to see Frank Sinatra play a priest. He is surprisingly effective in the role. We often forget that in the early part of his career Sinatra had an angelic innocence about him, totally different from the Ratpack/swinger persona he would later cultivate. I make it a point to watch any movie with Lee J. Cobb in it, as he always had such a tremendous presence in films. He gives a fine performance as the movie mogul. An occasional bit of levity would have been welcome in this very earnest film; but it nonetheless maintains an impressive, almost bleak post-war atmosphere - especially early on with Fred MacMurray's elegiac voice-overs recalling his dead sweetheart Alida Valli, and his dealings with a cynical funeral parlor director. The movie is refreshingly free from stereotypical '40's "schmaltz." Despite being a little overlong, MIRACLE OF THE BELLS is a handsome film and one well worth seeing this Christmas season – or any other season, for that matter. I particularly recommend this movie if you happen to be Catholic.

I first saw this film decades ago (literally), and never forgot it. So I was glad to see it come out on DVD via Olive Films. The original film had pretty good production values, and this transfer to DVD (Blu-Ray in my case) is better than a few of the other Olive Films I've purchased (not that they were bad, but this is better).One thing this proved was that Frank Sinatra had the potential of being a fine actor (which he later became). After all, in this film he played a priest with deep humility. If Frank Sinatra (of all people) can portray humility through such a character with any success, then he is a good actor. (As you can see, I'm not a fan of Sinatra, the man; but I do admire Sinatra the actor).But, this is not Sinatra's movie. It belongs lock-stock-and-barrel to a very talented actor who, today, is generally overlooked -- Fred MacMurray. There have been so many times while watching films on TCM that I have marveled at how pleasing an actor he was. Unfortunately, his role in a sit-com ("My Three Sons") and a number of Disney films dimmed his star a bit, but he's a very dependable and fine actor...and that shows here.His co-star, Valli, was, perhaps, not suited to American audiences, but she delivers a fine performance here, both as her character, and in scenes where she is playing Joan Of Arc.I guess I'm going to have to reconsider my long held belief that Lee J. Cobb wasn't that good an actor. Recently I saw him in another film and was impressed, and here -- where he plays a film mogul -- I'm impressed again. Frank Ferguson -- a veteran character actor -- is good here as a director. There are a number of other character actors you will recognize, as well.The story? Well, I guess some would say it's schmaltz...but it's top-of-the-line schmaltz. It depicts an old-fashioned viewpoint about religion...one that I grew up with...so it's realistic for this pre-1950s setting. The film is a tad long...could have been edited more tightly, but that's a minor criticism.Worth watching, particularly for the skill in acting of Fred MacMurray. Recommended.