Main Cast: Luis Alberni, Gene Tierney, Henry Armetta, John Hodiak, William Bendix, Richard Conte, Roman Bohnen
Release Year: 1945
Country: US
Run Time: 104 minutes
Plot
Director Henry King's adaptation of John Hersey's novel is a faithful telling of the story of Major Joppolo (John Hodiak), who is assigned to administrate the Sicilian town of Adano after World War II and attempts to return it to its pre-war tranquility. His initial actions include feeding and clothing the villagers, who have been left starved and destitute by the ravages of the war, and preventing the hanging of its former mayor, a Mussolini supporter, although he makes clear that any hints of Fascism will not be tolerated. Suspicious at first, the villagers finally come to trust Joppolo when he works to reclaim the town bell, stolen from the city hall and a symbol of its identity. Gene Tierney plays the fisherman's daughter that Joppolo falls for, while William Bendix is his compassionate orderly and assistant. A Bell For Adano is a low-key look at the effects of war that builds to a quietly powerful conclusion. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
Review
With the passage of time, A Bell for Adano no longer has as much meaning for viewers as it did upon its release. What seemed a small but significant film in 1945 now comes across as a moderately entertaining but unexceptional sentimental little picture. This isn't meant to denigrate Adano, for it does have modest charms that will make the film very appealing to many. It just no longer has the topicality that gave it deeper meaning as World War II was drawing to a close. There are also some other flaws that have nothing to do with the intervening years; although the adaptation of John Hersey's novel is very faithful, the character of the general was softened for the film, which damages the thrust of the story and its conclusion. Too, the Italian supporting cast is a bit too artificially "colorful," and the legitimate issue of how much an individual or a community must bear the blame for collaborative activities is dismissed too readily. However, these flaws aside, the screenplay is generally solid and often quite moving. An unfortunately blonde Gene Tierney is not ideal casting, but John Hodiak turns in one of his finest performances, and there's great chemistry between him and William Bendix. Henry King directs with a sensitive touch and makes the most of the film's set piece scenes. Dated it may be, but Adano will please many looking for a "nice" old fashioned picture. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Bell for Adano, A (1944), a drama by Paul Osborn.[ Cort Theatre, 296 perf.] Major Victor Joppolo (Fredric March), an Italian‐American, arrives in Adano, Italy, during the war to head the Allied Military Government in that city. He is sympathetic to the needs of the Sicilians, but his commanding officer, who is stationed far away, is not. When the commander orders that carts not be allowed to impede modern traffic in the village, Joppolo ignores the order. His behavior is reported, and he is ordered transferred, but not before he has gotten the villagers one of the things they most want—a new bell to replace one that the Fascists melted down to make arms. Just as he is leaving, the new bell sounds for the first time. “It shakes the whole damned building,” Joppolo proudly tells his sergeant. With the war still raging, a realistic treatment of its brutalities was out of the question. In a sense, this play, based on John Hersey's novel, looked back to the romantic war plays of earlier times. Thus while the Leland Hayward production was unquestionably timely, it was also sentimental and idealistic.
The story concerns Italian-AmericanU.S. Army Major Joppolo, who is placed in charge of the town of Adano during the invasion of Sicily. The title refers to Major Joppolo's attempts to replace the 700 year old bell that was taken from the town by the Fascists at the start of the war to be melted down for ammunition. Through his actions, Joppolo also wins the trust and love of the people.
Some of the changes Joppolo brings in to 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, who was military governor of the town of Licato, Sicily after the Allied invasion.[citation needed]
