Movie Review: Bells Are Ringing (1960)

My mother-in-law introduced me to this movie years ago and I was so excited when TCM showed recently. I think everyone in the world needs to know who Judy Holliday is.

The plot: Helpful, but lonely switchboard operator Ella Peterson (Judy Holliday) is an expert at solving everyone else's problems, but can't seem to get her own life in order. Ella adopts multiple identities in an effort to be everything to everyone. Her life is complicated by her love for a slumping playwright (Dean Martin).

Once again I unwittingly chose a movie directed by Vincent Minelli, but this time magic happens. It's all Judy Holliday's doing. She's beautiful, funny, talented, and built like a real woman. And as much as I adore Frank Sinatra, I always thought Dean Martin was the hottest member of the Rat Pack. When he croons "Just in Time" in Holliday's ear, I just melt. Jean Stapleton (from t.v.'s All in the Family) plays Ella's boss Sue. She and several other supporting characters add to the fun.

Judy Holliday only made a handful of movies, but the most notable is Born Yesterday. (Melanie Griffith later ruined the part in a remake.) Check that out, too.

Fast forward moment: The singing dentist bugs, but I'm not sure you'll get the rest if you skip him. Eat a snack during his part.

Grade: A

Rewind that! moment: Here's Holliday's big number.


P.S. Five years after this movie was made, Judy Holliday died of breast cancer at the age of 43. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you click HERE you will be connected to a site that helps gives free mammograms for every time someone clicks on the pink button. That probably doesn't make sense, but the idea is that all you have to do is click and someone will get a mammogram. Go team!