A Bell for Adano
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Henry King
Screenplay by	Lamar Trotti Norman Reilly Raine
Based on	A Bell for Adano 1944 novel by John Hersey
Produced by	Louis D. Lighton Lamar Trotti
Starring	Gene Tierney John Hodiak William Bendix
Cinematography	Joseph LaShelle
Edited by	Barbara McLean
Music by	Alfred Newman
Production company	20th Century Fox
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release dates	June 21, 1945 (1945-06-21) (U.S.) [1] ([1])
Running time	103 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$2.5 million[2]

A Bell for Adano is a 1945 American war film directed by Henry King and starring John Hodiak and Gene Tierney. It was adapted from the 1944 novel of the same title by John Hersey, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1945. In his review of the film for The New York Times, Bosley Crowther wrote, "... this easily vulnerable picture, which came to the Music Hall yesterday, is almost a perfect picturization of Mr. Hersey's book."^[3]

In addition to the Broadway play (Cort Theatre, (12/06/1944 - 10/27/1945),^[4] which starred Fredric March, there have been several other versions of the story. In a 1955 Lux Video Theatre adaptation, Edmond O'Brien had the lead, with a young Charles Bronson playing the part William Bendix took in the movie.^[5] Barry Sullivan and Anna Maria Alberghetti were in a 1956 CBS telecast,^[6] and John Forsythe played the major in a 1967 Hallmark Hall of Fame broadcast.^[7][8]

Plot

The story concerns Italian-American U.S. Army Major Joppolo (John Hodiak), who is placed in charge of the town of Adano during the invasion of Sicily. Major Joppolo asks the town elders what the town needs most: some say food but most say "a bell" and his curiosity is raised. The priest explains that the whole heart of the town's activities centred upon the bell ringing. He then starts a long struggle 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 weapons. Through his actions, Joppolo also wins the trust and love of the people.

Some of the changes Joppolo brings into 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 Licata, Sicily after the Allied invasion.^[9]

Cast

• Gene Tierney as Tina Tomasino
• John Hodiak as Maj. Victor P. Joppolo
• William Bendix as Sgt. Borth
• Glenn Langan as Lt. Crofts Livingstone
• Richard Conte as Nico
• Stanley Prager as Sgt. Trampani
• Henry Morgan as Capt. N. Purvis
• Monty Banks as Giuseppe
• Reed Hadley as Cmdr. Robertson
• Roy Roberts as Col. W. W. Middleton
• Hugo Haas as Father Pensovecchio
• Marcel Dalio as Zito
• Fortunio Bonanova as Chief of Police Gargano
• Henry Armetta as Errante
• Roman Bohnen as Carl Erba
• Luis Alberni as Cacopardo
• Eduardo Ciannelli as Maj. Nasta

Production

It was in production from early November 1944 to mid-January 1945. Location filming was done at Brent's Crags, near Malibu, California.