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THE MIRACLE OF THE BELLS (Dir: Irving Pichel, 1948).
The Miracle of the Bells is a sentimental RKO drama with an A list cast.
Via a series of flashbacks, the story of aspiring actress Olga Treskovna (Alida Valli - billed here as simply Valli) is told through voice-over narration by Hollywood press agent Bill Dunnigan (Fred MacMurray). Following her early death, Dunning fulfulls her final wish by returning with the body to the small coal-mining town of her childhood. Here she is to receive a modest burial at the struggling St Michael's church, conducted by Father Paul (Frank Sinatra). We learn of Dunnigan's unrequited love of Olga as he concocts a publicity stunt to secure the release of her only film, a starring role as Joan of Ark, which producer Marcus Harris (Lee J Cobb) has held back, due to her death.
The decision to tell the story in flashback was probably a mistake and does little to help an already weak narrative. Its 120 minutes feels epically long and structuring the movie in this way only serves to delay the inevitable conclusion. When it finally arrives, the treatment of the so called 'miracle' is mawkish in the extreme. Despite its themes of faith and belief, The Miracle of the Bells feels patently fake. Nothing about the movie rings true, from its skewed ideas about the workings of Hollywood to the reaction of the world to the death of the previously unheard of 'star'. Even the miracle of the title is called into question by the St Michael's priest.
Faith can be a tricky subject to pull off on film, but it can be done; festive favourites such as It's a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra, 1946) and The Bishop's Wife (Henry Koster, 1947) are testament to this. Yet where those movies were successful in presenting spiritual themes in engaging, credible manner to a secular audience, The Miracle of the Bells is not. It feels outdated, corny and preachy. But its biggest sin of all is that it is so dull.
With its star-studded cast, The Miracle of the Bells is not entirely unwatchable, but I cannot honestly recommend it. Give it go if you must; it will be a miracle if you make it until the end.
For a longer, more in-depth review of THE MIRACLE OF THE BELLS visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME! Link below.
SIROCCO (Dir: Curtis Bernhardt, 1951).
A romantic melodrama/crime thriller in the mold of Casablanca (Michael Curtis, 1942).
In 1925 Damascus, ex-patriot American Harry Smith (Humphrey Bogart) is mixed up in gunrunning for the Syrian rebels who oppose the French occupation. Wishing to flee the country he strikes up negotiations with Colonel Feroud (Lee J Cobb) to ensure safe passage. Things get complicated Smith embarks upon a relationship with the colonel's ambivalent mistress Violetta (Marta Toren). The odd twist in the tale enlivens the otherwise routine thrills.
Read the full review of SIROCCO on my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME! Link below.
THE DARK PAST (Dir: Rudolph Maté, 1948).
Told in flashback and narrated by Lee J Cobb as criminal psychiatrist Dr Andrew Collins, Collins relates how he and his family were held hostage by escaped convict Al Walker (Holden). With the help of Walker's girl Betty (Nina Foch), the good doc attempts to uncover Walker's unconscious motivation to kill, a disorder linked to a recurring nightmare following childhood truma.
Read the full review on my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME! Link below:
