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Bells Are Ringing

Play trailer Poster for Bells Are Ringing Released Jun 23, 1960 2h 7m Musical Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 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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Bells Are Ringing

Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
Michael Sragow The 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 Full Review Jeremiah Kipp Slant Magazine Never translates into anything cinematic. Rated: 1.5/4 Mar 14, 2005 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Has too much plot and not enough music or comedy. Rated: C+ Sep 13, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review Matthew R Just the cutest musical! Judy Holliday's best performance! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/21/23 Full Review Mark A Fun. Judy Holiday recreating her Broadway role. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/16/22 Full Review 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 Full Review Audience Member Charming musical! Judy Holliday and Dean Martin are terrific... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/07/21 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews
Bells Are Ringing

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Movie Info

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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