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      A Bell for Adano

      1945 1h 44m Drama List
      Reviews 27% 250+ Ratings Audience Score After the Allied invasion of Italy during World War II, U.S. Army major Victor Joppolo (John Hodiak) is placed in charge of the small Sicilian fishing village of Adano. Though he is treated with suspicion by the villagers, his fair-minded rule of the town soon quells dissent, especially when Joppolo attempts to replace the church bell appropriated by Fascist forces to be melted into ammunition. While in town, Joppolo becomes smitten with Tina (Gene Tierney), a fisherman's daughter. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Steve D Ok war film. Not a lot new here. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/27/24 Full Review Tom M Good story that loses its momentum towards the end. Hodiak is just okay. Tierney is oddly cast as a bleached blonde with an accent (that is anything but Italian). Bendix provides a small bright light. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/19/20 Full Review Audience Member Thirty-three percent approval rating!!!! Man how times have changed! Granted the movie is overt pro-American propaganda made right after the conclusion of WWII. As such it is filled with jingoism about the superiority of the "American Way." and stereotypes of Italian villagers who are simple and quaint in ways intended to fill the American audience with warm cozy feelings of nationalism. With all these problem, why did I rate the movie "good." For one thing it is important both historically and aesthetically. Coming right after the war it is an important Hollywoodized record of the kinds of values and ideals that American believed separated the U.S, from the rest of the world, especially Germany and Italy both of which had succumbed to facism, Aesthetically, the movie boasts beautiful black and white cinematography, soon to be eclipsed by color. The theme of the movie cried out for b&w and it was the good judgment of its producers to carry this through. Finally, it deserves to be mentioned that far all its sentimentality, A Bell for Adano is filled with a made in America cynicism about the dehumanization of bureaucracies that can be crushing to individual freedom and humanity. This is a very Frank Capra-esque movie that sets a heroic lead character en. countering the forces of impersonalism and mechanization. Because of this it maintains an interest to modern audiences Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member The story is a little offbeat even if the production isn't, but it does capture a good mood to the liberated Italian town and the plot surrounding the bell has a charm to it. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a well structured tale of postwar reconstruction in Italy. A fascinating portrayal of the rebuilding of a shattered town. If only it were that easy. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member wow umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch....its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie....i think that gene tierney, john hodiak, william bendix, glenn langan, richard conte play good roles/parts throughout this movie....i think that the director of this drama/wartime/action/adventure movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie....i think that this is an enjoyable war movie its a good movie with a good cast throughout this movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      A Bell for Adano

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis After the Allied invasion of Italy during World War II, U.S. Army major Victor Joppolo (John Hodiak) is placed in charge of the small Sicilian fishing village of Adano. Though he is treated with suspicion by the villagers, his fair-minded rule of the town soon quells dissent, especially when Joppolo attempts to replace the church bell appropriated by Fascist forces to be melted into ammunition. While in town, Joppolo becomes smitten with Tina (Gene Tierney), a fisherman's daughter.
      Director
      Henry King
      Screenwriter
      Lamar Trotti, Norman Reilly Raine
      Production Co
      Twentieth Century Fox
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Runtime
      1h 44m