Bells Are Ringing

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Bells Are Ringing

Released Jun 23, 1960

2h 7m

Musical

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

82%

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11 Reviews

75%

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1,000+ Ratings

Ella Peterson (Judy Holliday) is an operator for an answering service run by her cousin, Sue (Jean Stapleton). Lacking excitement in her personal life, Ella starts becoming involved in the lives of the service's clients, including a struggling playwright, Jeffrey Moss (Dean Martin). As Ella gets in over her head dealing with a bookie posing as a record producer (Eddie Foy Jr.), she tries to hide her real identity. That becomes more difficult when she begins to fall in love with Jeffrey.

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Michael Sragow

New Yorker

Vincente Minnelli makes use of the wide screen with graceful, fluid movement, and he helps Martin anchor his usual breeziness with just the right amount of anxiety.

Nov 21, 2016

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Jeremiah Kipp

Slant Magazine

Never translates into anything cinematic.

Rated: 1.5/4

Mar 14, 2005

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Vincent Minnelli directs the colorful Arthur Freed production like an elaborate stage show on fabulously designed studio sets, far more like the older, innocent 1950s musicals than the changing styles of 1960s musicals to come.

Jul 5, 2022

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

The offbeat charm, comic sense and assorted show-business talents of Judy Holliday constitute the prime reason why Hollywood's edition of the Broadway musical is well worth seeing.

Oct 23, 2019

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Raquel Stecher

Out of the Past

With plenty of memorable musical numbers, fun characters and a zany plot with a satisfying ending, Bells Are Ringing (1960) is sure to please.

Mar 4, 2019

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Has too much plot and not enough music or comedy.

Rated: C+

Sep 13, 2009

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Jithin K

A cute little musical. Judy Holliday's performance, charming nature, innocence and comedy are what really make this enjoyable. At the same time, the innocence she shows feels a bit too much a lot because she looks old for the part. I'm not saying she looks like an old lady, she looks absolutely stunning, but nearing 40, she doesn't look like she's in her early twenties, her face doesn't have the innocent young woman look and would suit more of a confident look. But considering the romantic movies of that time where 40-50-year-old men acted against 20-year-old women, this was a nice change nonetheless.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

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Matthew R

Just the cutest musical! Judy Holliday's best performance!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/21/23

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Mark A

Fun. Judy Holiday recreating her Broadway role.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/16/22

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Audience Member

I kept waiting for the two signature songs to appear in this movie. "The Party's Over" was repeated endlessly in the overture, but never appeared in the movie. "The Bells are Ringing," the freaking title song, was absent. Instead, I watched a bland 60s love story with mediocre songs. Judy Holiday deserved better.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

Charming musical! Judy Holliday and Dean Martin are terrific...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/07/21

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steve d

I don't know if it is the translation from the stage or the show itself but it didn't work.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Vincente Minnelli

Director

Judy Holliday

Ella Peterson

Dean Martin

Jeffrey Moss

Fred Clark

Larry Hastins

Eddie Foy Jr.

J. Otto Prantz

Jean Stapleton

Sue

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Synopsis

Ella Peterson (Judy Holliday) is an operator for an answering service run by her cousin, Sue (Jean Stapleton). Lacking excitement in her personal life, Ella starts becoming involved in the lives of the service's clients, including a struggling playwright, Jeffrey Moss (Dean Martin). As Ella gets in over her head dealing with a bookie posing as a record producer (Eddie Foy Jr.), she tries to hide her real identity. That becomes more difficult when she begins to fall in love with Jeffrey.

Director: Vincente Minnelli
Producer: Arthur Freed
Screenwriter: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 23, 1960, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2008
Runtime: 2h 7m

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