The Bells of St. Mary’s
1945 Nominee

100 Words
Father O’Malley returns with his signature hat and booming vocals in the sequel to Going My Way, which if you ask me didn’t exactly warrant a sequel, but it’s not too shabby as far as sequels go (my way). This time, the Father doesn’t get along with the Sister, but the church is still up for grabs by a greedy local whose kindly manner (that’s the rosy man from Mrs. Miniver) doesn’t make him much of a villain. It’s a sweet film punctuated by stellar child performances, including an unforgettable scene where the kids sing “Happy Birthday” to baby Jesus.