Review of A Bell for Adano (1945) by Harvey M — 25 Dec 2018

Thirty-three percent approval rating!!!! Man how times have changed! Granted the movie is overt pro-American propaganda made right after the conclusion of WWII. As such it is filled with jingoism about the superiority of the "American Way.

" and stereotypes of Italian villagers who are simple and quaint in ways intended to fill the American audience with warm cozy feelings of nationalism. With all these problem, why did I rate the movie "good.

" For one thing it is important both historically and aesthetically. Coming right after the war it is an important Hollywoodized record of the kinds of values and ideals that American believed separated the U.

S, from the rest of the world, especially Germany and Italy both of which had succumbed to facism, Aesthetically, the movie boasts beautiful black and white cinematography, soon to be eclipsed by color.

The theme of the movie cried out for b&w and it was the good judgment of its producers to carry this through. Finally, it deserves to be mentioned that far all its sentimentality, A Bell for Adano is filled with a made in America cynicism about the dehumanization of bureaucracies that can be crushing to individual freedom and humanity.

This is a very Frank Capra-esque movie that sets a heroic lead character en. countering the forces of impersonalism and mechanization. Because of this it maintains an interest to modern audiences.