ID

FBW000965      Fiction

Country / Year

USA, 1945

Original Title

A Bell for Adano

Directed by

Henry King

Produced by

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., Los Angeles, CA / New York, NY

Staff

Producer: Louis D. Lighton; Script: Lamar Trotti, Norman Reilly Raine; Based on: John Hersey (Novel); Camera: Joseph La Shelle; Editing: Barbara Mclean; Musical arrangements: Alfred Newman

Cast

Gene Tierney (Tina); John Hodiak (Maj. Joppolo); William Bendix (Sgt. Borth); Richard Conte (Nicolo); Glen Langan (Lt. Livingstone); Stanley Prager (Sgt. Trampani); Henry Morgan (Capt. Purvis); Montague Banks (Guiseppe); Reed Hadley (Cmdr. Robertson); Roy Roberts (Col. Middleton); Hugo Haas (Fr. Pensovecchio); Marcel Dalio (Zito); Fortunio Bonanova (Gargano); Henry Armetta (Errante); Roman Bohnen (Erba); Luis Alberni (Cacopardo); Eduardo Ciannelli (Mayor Nasta); William Edmunds (Tomasino); Yvonne Vautrot (Francisca); John Russell (Capt. Anderson); Anna Demetrio (Rosa); James Rennie (Lt. Col. Sartorius); Charles La Torre (Mercurio Salvatore); Charles Judels (Alfronti); Frank Jaquet (Basile); Gino Corrado (Zapulla); Peter Cusanelli (Craxi); Minor Watson (Gen. McKay); Grady Sutton (Edward); Joseph Milani (Capello); Edward Hyans (MP)

Length

104'

Format

35mm/sw/1:1,37

Abstract

At the end of WWII, Maj. Joppolo is a tough Army major who is given the job of reestablishing civil administration in Adano, a small Italian town. The town has been ravaged by the war, its citizens starving and in rags. Maj. Joppolo must feed the people as well as instill in them trust of the Americans. He stops the lynching of the former Fascist mayor but deals harshly with others who have backed Mussolini. Strong support comes from Sgt. Borth and Nicolo, one of the returning POW Italian soldiers. As a gesture of understanding and affection for the people in his charge, Maj. Joppolo goes to great lengths to retrieve the huge church bell which symbolizes the town's spirit and which has been stolen. It is replaced in the tower and tolls upon Maj. Joppolo's departure, one which is attended by the grateful citizens.

Subject Terms

Anti-Nazi films (US); Army; Fascism; Italy; Italians; World War II

Bibliography

- Nash, Ray R. / Ross, Stanley R. / Conelly, Robert B. (Ed.): Motion Picture Guide. Chicago, IL: Cinebooks, 1987