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Bells Are Ringing

Play trailer Poster for Bells Are Ringing 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

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Michael Sragow The New Yorker 11/21/2016
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. Go to Full Review Jeremiah Kipp Slant Magazine 03/14/2005
1.5/4
Never translates into anything cinematic. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 07/05/2022
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. Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 10/23/2019
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. Go to Full Review Raquel Stecher Out of the Past 03/04/2019
With plenty of memorable musical numbers, fun characters and a zany plot with a satisfying ending, Bells Are Ringing (1960) is sure to please. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 09/13/2009
C+
Has too much plot and not enough music or comedy. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jithin K @Jithin 06/22/2023 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. See more Matthew R @RT77445758 04/21/2023 Just the cutest musical! Judy Holliday's best performance! See more 10/10/2021 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. See more 06/07/2021 Charming musical! Judy Holliday and Dean Martin are terrific... See more steve d @RT35616104 07/19/2020 I don't know if it is the translation from the stage or the show itself but it didn't work. See more 12/30/2019 What in the world are the reviewers here thinking? What movie did they all watch? This is a train wreck. The songs are terrible. The acting is over the top, and not in a good or ironic way. There is zero chemistry between the actors. Dean Martin and several good actors are completely wasted in this wretched wreck of a musical. Don't watch this without an open bottle of something potent and numbing. See more Read all reviews
Bells Are Ringing

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Cast & Crew

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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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Bells Are Ringing

Bells Are Ringing (1960) Bells Are Ringing (1960) View more photos

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