Review of Bells Are Ringing (1960) by Ryan M — 04 Aug 2009

I don't know, when Minnelli's "on" he's generally very "on", and 'Bells Are Ringing' definitely finds him in a satisfying mode. The film's a little scatterbrained, for sure: Holliday's uncertainty about her relationship with Martin is really stretched to the breaking point, and the vice-squad subplot provides cheaper laughs than usual for Minnelli.

Nevertheless, the movie has quite a bit going for it. Comden and Green seem to have taken some cues from the great film-satirist Frank Tashlin; the movie can hardly take itself seriously, and the effect is very positive.

Holliday is best when she's channelling the compassionate persuasiveness of her character (not when she's foundering in doubt), and Martin is entirely less macho and domineering than in the Martin & Lewis comedies he'd recently stopped making (a positive shift I think, though I love Martin & Lewis).

In fact the movie interestingly regenders typical Hollywood relationship-making, putting Holliday in the driver's seat (if only temporarily). Some of the numbers here are really fantastic, from the basement bookie meeting to the name-dropping game to the reprisal of the romantic dance from 'The Band Wagon'.

And what the synopsis author describes as a "muted" tone I think is more a bittersweet tone. This was after all the last Freed, Comden, Green, AND Holliday movie ever made and all rolled into one.

That particular fact seems to resonate in the film, as if all of the above were taking their sweet time in saying goodbye. Looking at the movie with semi-severe critical rigor, it might seem that the creators stretched this one a little TOO much, but then I think it's pretty clear here that Minnelli wants us to relax a bit and get some kicks (the frequent Brando lampooning is totally unnecessary but totally hilarious, for example).

It's no 'Band Wagon', but it's no dud either. Recommended.