Watch Bells Are Ringing

Bells Are Ringing is a delightful 1960 musical comedy directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring the vivacious Judy Holliday, the charming Dean Martin, and the hilarious Fred Clark. Adapted from the hit Broadway show of the same name, the film tells the story of Ella Peterson (Holliday), a lonely switchboard operator at a New York answering service called "Susanswerphone", who becomes intimately involved in the lives of her clients, particularly a struggling playwright named Jeffrey Moss (Martin).

Ella, a talkative and caring woman, is always eager to help her clients, whom she affectionately refers to by number (such as SM 5375 for Moss). She even goes so far as to give them advice on their personal lives and sends herself flowers on behalf of the imaginary person "Mom" to cheer herself up. Ella's boss (Clark) is suspicious of her methods and orders her to stop interfering with the clients' lives. However, Ella can't resist the temptation to continue stepping in and making a difference.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Moss is suffering from writer's block and can't seem to finish his latest play. He's also struggling with his personal life, as he's a playboy with commitment issues who's scared to fall in love. When Ella starts listening in on his calls and decides to help him through his writer's block, she begins to fall in love with him herself. However, she keeps her identity a secret and poses as a fellow struggling writer.

As they work on the play together, Ella and Jeffrey grow closer and he starts to open up to her about his fears and insecurities. However, when Jeffrey discovers Ella's true identity, he feels betrayed and pushes her away. Ella is heartbroken and decides to leave New York for good. However, just as she's about to leave, Jeffrey realizes how much she means to him and rushes to the airport to tell her he loves her and wants to be with her.

Bells Are Ringing is a delightful and charming romantic comedy that showcases the talents of Judy Holliday and Dean Martin, two of Hollywood's most beloved performers. Holliday brings a lovable quirkiness to the role of Ella, making her a character that audiences can't help but root for. Martin, on the other hand, exudes a cool and suave charm as Jeffrey, making him the perfect foil for Holliday's bubbly personality. Their chemistry together is palpable, and their duet of the song "Just in Time" is a highlight of the film.

In addition to the wonderful performances, Bells Are Ringing features a catchy and memorable score by Jule Styne and Betty Comden, including the hits "The Party's Over" and "I Met a Girl". The musical numbers are fun and energetic, with the ensemble cast showing off their singing and dancing skills in a variety of colorful and whimsical settings. The film is also notable for its witty dialogue and comedic situations, which will have audiences laughing out loud.

Overall, Bells Are Ringing is a delightful and heartwarming film that will leave audiences feeling happy and uplifted. With its charming cast, catchy songs, and humorous storyline, it's no wonder that it's considered one of the greatest musical comedies of all time. If you're a fan of Judy Holliday, Dean Martin, or classic musicals in general, this is one film that should not be missed.

Bells Are Ringing is a 1960 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 6 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 61.