I remembered this movie being shown on Christmas Day evening growing up outside of Nanticoke, PA, near where the movie is set in fictional Coaltown. Watching it as an adult allows me to see some hidden commentary on some of the dangers and hardships of coal miners in a coal town, especially the immigrants.
I believe "coal town" was supposed to be Glen Lyon PA. It was a poor town mostly made up of coal miners and Polish immigrants. My grandparents attended what was St Michael's church when they came to America. My grandmother said she knew Olga's family and her grave is actually 8 headstones away from where my family plot starts in St Michael's Cemetery.
Love ‘The Miracle of the Bells’ saw it on TV, yes l would consider it a Christmas movie, especially for the lonely, the Christmas Eve scene, where they bothe want dinner and find a lone chinese restaurant open, bring to light why this is a Christmas Movie; l would like to have this film restored, the beautifull Alida Valli, is superb and Fred Mac Murrays voice lends a sound of the familiar, and bless Father Michael playued by Frank Sinatra; it should noted, that Valli was on loan from the Selznick Studio; where she was hired for Mrs. Paradine in Alfred Hitchcocks “the Paradien Case’;
+C.J. Blanda I just finished watching this movie on TCM cable and I was surprised I never saw it before. It was much better than I thought it was going to be because Comcast had only rated it 2 stars. After googling it I saw it was rated at 3 and 3 1/2 stars. I agree, only the lonely...
very good movie. I haven't seen it in years and it looks like I wont be able to see it many more which sucks. but it was a great film, the script/story the acting and direction. something that you cant find any more. Sinatra played as if he's been a priest all his life. Fred McMurray also played very well. You knew they loved each other deeply but you never saw even a kiss! heh it's great I mean to be able to relate the feelings without being so dang vulgar, like today...oh and I always like Cobb's acting he was really an underrated actor who played so very well even as a bad person like in (12 angry men w/ henry fonda)....Good job n thanks for narrating... but I still like to see this movie... lol
This movie was frequently shown on Christmas Day by a local TV channel when I was growing up. I didn't actually see it till I was an adult, and I was surprised at how un-Christmasy it seems for the most part. I think you are right that the Christmas scene fairly early in the movie is what has made it into a Christmas movie (and the "miracle" part too of course). One thing: please note it's Katharine Hepburn not "Hefburn."
As I have not read the original novel, I cannot comment on it, or on how it compares to the film. There is, however, a basic point about the film that has been overlooked so far in the discussion here: namely, that the film is really sleazy and crass. A hustling PR man gives spiritual advice to a priest and convinces him to lie to his superstitious parishioners so they will believe in a bogus miracle. And why? The promoter's affection for the actress notwithstanding, it's all so a movie can get released, truly an uplifting ending.
the maker of this movie did a pretty good overview telling us about the movie however he forgot 1 most important thing about the movie he forgot the miracle the miracle of the Bells why are the bells ringing and then how did the miracle happened what was the miracle the church was fully crowded with people and then there was a small earthquake the 2 giant Angels facing the holy altar turned and faced the coffin instead and this was a sign of a miracle which you forgot to talk about
I forgot that I'd seen this and was looking for trailers. Actually, this is a great movie. Thank God I don't psychoanalyze movies. Which is so much mental masturbation as I like to simply be entertained. My mind is busy enough with issues and politics. I like to just sit down, watch a movie, and go "duh". I leave my politics at the door when I watch movies as well as any preconceived prejudices. And as far as Sinatra goes there are none. Like Bing Crosby he's a great actor. I haven't watched one of the their movies I didn't like.
If Sinatra had flubbed his lines right or tripped on camera I might agree he was "miscast" but he was no worse or better than (other singers trying to turn actor) Glen C. in "True Grit" or John D. in "Oh God!" and substantually better than Frankie A. in "The Alamo" or Selena G., Britany S., or the hordes of others in their early attempts. MacMurrary was just fine and the production was spot on. Unfortunately, to condense the events of the book to a movie length time, some shortcuts were made but they kept the important thing, the characterization.
The movie certainly suffers from bad casting (MacMurray as Dunnigan?!) but even worse, it repeatedly strays too far from the original book. Worse, it ruins the uplifting story of the book. Father Paul was not tough or rude, Dunnigan did not write bad checks, Olga did not play Joan of Arc - and that's just the beginning. The flashbacks are part of the book so I don't know why moviegoers would expect anything different - ?
Filmed in Glen Lyon, Pa. I buy my dog food there, hahaha. Cool upload. Thank you for this.
This is my favorite book! Still need to watch the film 😊
I remembered this movie being shown on Christmas Day evening growing up outside of Nanticoke, PA, near where the movie is set in fictional Coaltown. Watching it as an adult allows me to see some hidden commentary on some of the dangers and hardships of coal miners in a coal town, especially the immigrants.
I believe "coal town" was supposed to be Glen Lyon PA. It was a poor town mostly made up of coal miners and Polish immigrants. My grandparents attended what was St Michael's church when they came to America. My grandmother said she knew Olga's family and her grave is actually 8 headstones away from where my family plot starts in St Michael's Cemetery.
Did your family know baseball player Pete Gray or actor Nick Adams? Both came from Nanticoke, PA.
watched this movie today for the first time. really enjoyed it.
A great classic movie!
This is a gift, in every way...it is the most powerful in a simple way to give the small people hope, to have faith...
I remember seeing this in my younger days (before the Flood) and kind of liked but didn't love it. Not bad. Tearjerker for sure. Worth a watch.
This is one of my favorite films!!!!
Same here.
Love ‘The Miracle of the Bells’ saw it on TV, yes l would consider it a Christmas movie, especially for the lonely, the Christmas Eve scene, where they bothe want dinner and find a lone chinese restaurant open, bring to light why this is a Christmas Movie; l would like to have this film restored, the beautifull Alida Valli, is superb and Fred Mac Murrays voice lends a sound of the familiar, and bless Father Michael playued by Frank Sinatra; it should noted, that Valli was on loan from the Selznick Studio; where she was hired for Mrs. Paradine in Alfred Hitchcocks “the Paradien Case’;
+C.J. Blanda I just finished watching this movie on TCM cable and I was surprised I never saw it before. It was much better than I thought it was going to be because Comcast had only rated it 2 stars. After googling it I saw it was rated at 3 and 3 1/2 stars. I agree, only the lonely...
I live in that fictional coal town!
very good movie. I haven't seen it in years and it looks like I wont be able to see it many more which sucks. but it was a great film, the script/story the acting and direction. something that you cant find any more. Sinatra played as if he's been a priest all his life. Fred McMurray also played very well. You knew they loved each other deeply but you never saw even a kiss! heh it's great I mean to be able to relate the feelings without being so dang vulgar, like today...oh and I always like Cobb's acting he was really an underrated actor who played so very well even as a bad person like in (12 angry men w/ henry fonda)....Good job n thanks for narrating... but I still like to see this movie... lol
This movie was frequently shown on Christmas Day by a local TV channel when I was growing up. I didn't actually see it till I was an adult, and I was surprised at how un-Christmasy it seems for the most part. I think you are right that the Christmas scene fairly early in the movie is what has made it into a Christmas movie (and the "miracle" part too of course). One thing: please note it's Katharine Hepburn not "Hefburn."
As I have not read the original novel, I cannot comment on it, or on how it compares to the film.
There is, however, a basic point about the film that has been overlooked so far in the discussion here: namely, that the film is really sleazy and crass. A hustling PR man gives spiritual advice to a priest and convinces him to lie to his superstitious parishioners so they will believe in a bogus miracle. And why? The promoter's affection for the actress notwithstanding, it's all so a movie can get released, truly an uplifting ending.
the maker of this movie did a pretty good overview telling us about the movie however he forgot 1 most important thing about the movie he forgot the miracle the miracle of the Bells why are the bells ringing and then how did the miracle happened what was the miracle the church was fully crowded with people and then there was a small earthquake the 2 giant Angels facing the holy altar turned and faced the coffin instead and this was a sign of a miracle which you forgot to talk about
Where is the FULL movie you promised??????/
The star is Fred MacMurray!
I thought he was born in Beaver Dam Wisconsin
I forgot that I'd seen this and was looking for trailers. Actually, this is a great movie. Thank God I don't psychoanalyze movies. Which is so much mental masturbation as I like to simply be entertained. My mind is busy enough with issues and politics. I like to just sit down, watch a movie, and go "duh".
I leave my politics at the door when I watch movies as well as any preconceived prejudices. And as far as Sinatra goes there are none. Like Bing Crosby he's a great actor. I haven't watched one of the their movies I didn't like.
If Sinatra had flubbed his lines right or tripped on camera I might agree he was "miscast" but he was no worse or better than (other singers trying to turn actor) Glen C. in "True Grit" or John D. in "Oh God!" and substantually better than Frankie A. in "The Alamo" or Selena G., Britany S., or the hordes of others in their early attempts. MacMurrary was just fine and the production was spot on. Unfortunately, to condense the events of the book to a movie length time, some shortcuts were made but they kept the important thing, the characterization.
The movie certainly suffers from bad casting (MacMurray as Dunnigan?!) but even worse, it repeatedly strays too far from the original book. Worse, it ruins the uplifting story of the book. Father Paul was not tough or rude, Dunnigan did not write bad checks, Olga did not play Joan of Arc - and that's just the beginning. The flashbacks are part of the book so I don't know why moviegoers would expect anything different - ?
Amazingly, Hollywood has a habit of improving basic story lines.