''A Bell for Adano'' is a 1945 American war film directed by Henry King and starring John Hodiak and Gene Tierney. It was adapted from the 1944 novel of the same title by John Hersey, which won the

Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prize () is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made h ...

for fiction in 1945. In his review of the film for '' The New York Times'', Bosley Crowther wrote, "... this easily vulnerable picture, which came to the Music Hall yesterday, is almost a perfect picturization of Mr. Hersey's book." In addition to the Broadway play ( Cort Theatre, (12/06/1944 - 10/27/1945), which starred Fredric March, there have been several other versions of the story. In a 1955 Lux Video Theatre adaptation, Edmond O'Brien had the lead, with a young

Charles Bronson Charles Bronson (born Charles Dennis Buchinsky; November 3, 1921 – August 30, 2003) was an American actor. Known for his "granite features and brawny physique," he gained international fame for his starring roles in action, Western, and war ...

playing the part William Bendix took in the movie.

Barry Sullivan Barry Sullivan may refer to: *Barry Sullivan (American actor) (1912–1994), US film and Broadway actor *Barry Sullivan (stage actor) (1821–1891), Irish born stage actor active in Britain and Australia *Barry Sullivan (lawyer), Chicago lawyer and ...

and Anna Maria Alberghetti were in a 1956 CBS telecast, and John Forsythe played the major in a 1967 ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'' broadcast.

Plot

The story concerns Italian-American U.S. Army Major Joppolo ( John Hodiak), who is placed in charge of the town of Adano during the invasion of Sicily. Major Joppolo asks the town elders what the town needs most: some say food but most say "a bell" and his curiosity is raised. The priest explains that the whole heart of the town's activities centred upon the bell ringing. He then starts a long struggle to replace the 700-year-old bell that was taken from the town by the

Fascists Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultra-nationalist political ideology and movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy and th ...

at the start of the war to be melted down for weapons. Through his actions, Joppolo also wins the trust and love of the people. Some of the changes Joppolo brings into the town include: * Democracy * Free fishing privilege * The freedom of mule carts * A bell from the American Navy to replace the town bell The short-tempered American commander, General Marvin, fires Major Joppolo from his position when Joppolo disobeys an order to prohibit mule cart traffic in Adano, which has been disrupting Allied supply trucks, because the mule carts are vital to the survival of the town. The character of Joppolo was based on the real life experiences of

Frank Toscani Frank or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a medieval Germanic people * Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang Curre ...

, who was military governor of the town of Licata, Sicily after the Allied invasion.Martin, Douglass.
The New York Times: F.E. Toscani 89, Dies; Model for Hero of 'Bell for Adano'
28 Jan 2001

Cast

* Gene Tierney as Tina Tomasino * John Hodiak as Maj. Victor P. Joppolo * William Bendix as Sgt. Borth * Glenn Langan as Lt. Crofts Livingstone * Richard Conte as Nico * Stanley Prager as Sgt. Trampani * Henry Morgan as Capt. N. Purvis * Monty Banks as Giuseppe * Reed Hadley as Cmdr. Robertson *

Roy Roberts Roy Roberts (born Roy Barnes Jones, March 19, 1906 – May 28, 1975) was an American character actor. Over his more than 40-year career, he appeared in more than nine hundred productions on stage and screen. Life and career Born in Tampa ...

as Col. W. W. Middleton * Hugo Haas as Father Pensovecchio *

Marcel Dalio Marcel Dalio (born Marcel Benoit Blauschild; 23 November 1899 in Paris – 18 November 1983) was a French movie actor. He had major roles in two films directed by Jean Renoir, ''La Grande Illusion'' (1937) and ''The Rules of the Game'' (1939). ...

as Zito * Fortunio Bonanova as Chief of Police Gargano * Henry Armetta as Errante * Roman Bohnen as Carl Erba *

Luis Alberni Luis Alberni (October 4, 1886 – December 23, 1962) was a Spanish-born American character actor of stage and films. Early years Alberni was born in Barcelona, Spain, on October 4, 1886. He acted in stock theater for four years in Marseille ...

as Cacopardo * Eduardo Ciannelli as Maj. Nasta

Production

It was in production from early November 1944 to mid-January 1945. Location filming was done at Brent's Crags, near Malibu, California.

References

External links

* * * } *
1952 ''Best Plays'' radio adaptation of novel
at Internet Archive {{DEFAULTSORT:Bell For Adano, A 1945 films 1945 drama films 20th Century Fox films American drama films American black-and-white films Films scored by Alfred Newman Films based on American novels Films directed by Henry King Films set in Sicily Italian Campaign of World War II films Films with screenplays by Lamar Trotti World War II films made in wartime 1940s English-language films