The Miracle of the Bells
| The Miracle of the Bells | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Irving Pichel |
| Produced by |
Jesse L. Lasky Walter MacEwen |
| Screenplay by |
Ben Hecht Quentin Reynolds |
| Based on |
The Miracle of the Bells by Russell Janney |
| Starring |
Fred MacMurray Alida Valli Frank Sinatra Lee J. Cobb |
| Music by | Leigh Harline |
| Cinematography | Robert De Grasse |
| Edited by | Elmo Williams |
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Production
company |
Jesse L. Lasky Productions
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| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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120 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2 million |
| Box office | $2.1 million (US rentals) |
The Miracle of the Bells is a 1948 American drama film produced by RKO. It stars Fred MacMurray, Alida Valli, Frank Sinatra, and Lee J. Cobb. Directed by Irving Pichel, with a script by Quentin Reynolds and Ben Hecht.
The film is based on a novel by Russell Janney.
The story begins as Hollywood press agent Bill Dunnigan (Fred MacMurray), who works for a movie studio, arrives by train with the body of actress Olga Treskovna (Alida Valli), in her home town of "Coal Town," named for its coal mining industry. In a voiceover narrated by Dunnigan, we learn that he was in love with Olga, although he never told her; we also never find out if she loved him. He has brought her back to "Coal Town" to honor her deathbed request to be buried there. He encounters hostility from the local funeral director who resents her because she never finished paying for her father's burial. After being pressured by the funeral director and the pastor of the larger and more prestigious St. Leo's Catholic church, Dunnigan goes to Father Paul (Frank Sinatra), the priest of the smaller and poorer Polish St. Michael's church in accordance with Olga's wishes. Showing Dunnigan where Olga's parents are buried in the graveyard atop a hill, away from the dust of the mines, Fr. Paul sings, a cappella – in both English and Polish, the plaintive "Ever Homeward", the only song in the film.
The main flashback story then begins, showing how Olga is plucked from a chorus line in a nightclub to serve as the stand-in for an extremely temperamental film actress who is to star as Joan of Arc in a motion picture. Dunnigan realizes that Olga has the makings of a talented actress herself, and when the film's star throws a tantrum and walks out, he manages to convince Marcus Harris, the film's producer (Lee J. Cobb), to audition Olga, despite her having had no film experience. The screen test is a success and Olga is cast as Joan. However, as filming progresses, she shows signs of being seriously ill. After inquiring after her health from her doctor, Dunnigan is secretly informed that Olga has a severe, fatal form of tuberculosis, likely caused by her inhalation of the coal dust from "Coal Town" where she grew up. Desperate to do something for her hometown that will restore the pride of its bitter and disillusioned citizens, Olga continues with the filming, and collapses after the shooting ends. Rushed to a hospital, she dies with Dunnigan at her side.
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