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Bells Are Ringing (1960)

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Movie Info

Judy Holliday re-creates her Broadway role of flibbertigibbet telephone operator Ella Peterson in Bells are Ringing. Ella works for Susanswerphone, a hole-in-the-wall answering service run by her cousin Sue (Jean Stapleton). Our girl Ella can't help but become involved in the lives of her customers, which brings her to the attention of a dimwitted police detective, Barnes (Dort Clark), who suspects that Susanswerphone is a front for a house of ill repute. The cop is so obtuse that he never

Mar 15, 2005

MGM Home Entertainment

Cast

All Critics (12) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (2) | DVD (5)

Has too much plot and not enough music or comedy.

September 13, 2009 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Minnelli's last collaboration with Arthur Freed is an old-fashioned, moderately entertaining musical that suffers from lack of chemistry between Judy Holliday and Dean Martin.

July 27, 2009 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

Inventive, emotionally involving and visually stylish musical.

August 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Classic Film and Television | Comment
Classic Film and Television

a wonderful film

July 21, 2006 Comment

One of Hollywood's last old-fashioned Broadway adaptations, with Holliday as endearing as ever. Not exactly Minnelli's finest, but well worth catching for musicals fans.

March 17, 2006 Comment
Las Vegas Review-Journal

The DVD packaging seems just as apathetic as the film.

March 14, 2005 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

Never translates into anything cinematic.

March 14, 2005 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

One of the most undervalued of musicals.

March 15, 2004 Comment
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Bells Are Ringing

Sweet, good natured comedy. Wonderful supporting cast but the shining light of the whole thing is Judy Holliday a truly unique talent. She glows when ever she's on screen. Sadly this was her last film. A real loss.

March 20, 2009
jjnxn
jay nixon

Super Reviewer

I really liked Holliday in this movie, her last, it's fun and has good songs. The story is funny and romantic, and I recommend this movie.

September 5, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Bells are Ringing (1960) (DE)
  • Bells are Ringing (1960) (UK)
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