Ralph Roberts

Judy Holliday re-creates her Broadway role of flibbertigibbet telephone operator Ella Peterson in Bells are Ringing. Ella works for Susanswerphone, a hole-in-the-wall answering service run by her cousin Sue (Jean Stapleton). Our girl Ella can't help but become involved in the lives of her customers, which bring her to the attention of a dimwitted police detective, Barnes (Dort Clark), who suspects that Susanswerphone is a front for a house of ill repute. The cop is so obtuse that he never notices the story's genuine criminal, a flamboyant German bookie (Eddie Foy Jr.) who poses as a record executive and uses the names of composers as code for the various racetracks around the country. To avoid Barnes' wiretapping, Ella goes around New York in person to minister to the needs of her clientsmost notably playwright Jeffrey Moss (Dean Martin), who is in danger of becoming an alcoholic if he can't come up with a good idea for a play. Assuming a false identity, Ella prattles on about some of her other clients, notably a dentist (Bernie West) who composes pop songs on his air hose. Moss is inspired by Ella, and eventually falls in love with her. Because she will not reveal who she really is to Jeffrey, Ella decides that her relationship is founded on lies, and walks out of his life. But Moss, together with the other Susanswerphone customers who have been "rescued" by Ella, show up at Ella's doorstep for a happy ending.

Stanley Kubrick's second feature film covers two days in the life of boxer Davy Gordon — he meets nightclub dancer Gloria Price; the two fall in love, and decide to make their futures somewhere other than New York City. But Vince Rapallo, Gloria's ex-employer, wants her for himself, and not only won't take "no" for an answer but has no intention of losing her to a two-bit boxer. His machinations lead to murder, a police manhunt, and revenge in the best film noir fashion — the very best, in fact, as Kubrick's use of real New York settings gives the action here a startling verisimilitude, as though we're watching a documentary, or the unfolding of actual events. The violence escalates as Davy and Rapallo find themselves going one-on-one, to the death if need be, with a climax in a warehouse filled with department store mannequins and their various component parts. This low-budget film definitely foreshadows Kubrick as one of the most amazing talents in cinematic history.

Ella works for Susanswerphone, a hole-in-the-wall answering service run by her cousin Sue, but our girl Ella can't help but become involved in the lives of her customers.

Ella works for Susanswerphone, a hole-in-the-wall answering service run by her cousin Sue, but our girl Ella can't help but become involved in the lives of her customers.

Judy Holliday re-creates her Broadway role of flibbertigibbet telephone operator Ella Peterson in BELLS ARE RINGING. Ella works for Susanswerphone, a hole-in-the-wall answering service run by her cousin Sue (Jean Stapleton). Our girl Ella can't help but become involved in the lives of her customers, which brings her to the attention of a dimwitted police detective, Barnes (Dort Clark), who suspects that Susanswerphone is a front for a house of ill repute. The cop is so obtuse that he never notices the story's genuine criminal, a flamboyant German bookie (Eddie Foy Jr.) who poses as a record executive and uses the names of composers as code for the various racetracks around the country. To avoid Barnes' wiretapping, Ella goes around New York in person to minister to the needs of her clients - most notably playwright Jeffrey Moss (Dean Martin), who is in danger of becoming an alcoholic if he can't come up with a good idea for a play. Assuming a false identity, Ella prattles on about some of her other clients, notably a dentist (Bernie West) who composes pop songs on his air hose. Moss is inspired by Ella, and eventually falls in love with her. Because she will not reveal who she really is to Jeffrey, Ella decides that her relationship is founded on lies, and walks out of his life. But Moss, together with the other Susanswerphone customers who have been "rescued" by Ella, show up at Ella's doorstep for a happy ending.

Dancehall girl Gloria Price and washed-up boxer Davey Gordon fall in love after he saves her from the clutches of her lustful gangster boss, Vincent Rapallo -- who's willing to commit murder to have Gloria for himself.

Stanley Kubrick's second feature film covers two days in the life of boxer Davy Gordon -- he meets nightclub dancer Gloria Price; the two fall in love, and decide to make their futures somewhere other than New York City. But Gloria is lusted after by her ex-employer, But Vince Rapallo, Gloria's ex-employer, wants her for himself, and not only won't take "no" for an answer but has no intention of losing her to a two-bit boxer. His machinations lead to murder, a police manhunt, and revenge in the best film noir fashion -- the very best, in fact, as Kubrick's use of real New York settings gives the action here a startling verisimilitude, as though we're watching a documentary, or the unfolding of actual events. The violence escalates as Davy and Rapallo find themselves going one-on-one, to the death if need be, with a climax in a warehouse filled with department store mannequins and their various component parts. This low-budget film definitely foreshadows Kubrick as one of the most amazing talents in cinematic history.

Stanley Kubrick's second feature film covers two days in the life of boxer Davy Gordon -- he meets nightclub dancer Gloria Price; the two fall in love, and decide to make their futures somewhere other than New York City. But Gloria is lusted after by her ex-employer, But Vince Rapallo, Gloria's ex-employer, wants her for himself, and not only won't take "no" for an answer but has no intention of losing her to a two-bit boxer. His machinations lead to murder, a police manhunt, and revenge in the best film noir fashion -- the very best, in fact, as Kubrick's use of real New York settings gives the action here a startling verisimilitude, as though we're watching a documentary, or the unfolding of actual events. The violence escalates as Davy and Rapallo find themselves going one-on-one, to the death if need be, with a climax in a warehouse filled with department store mannequins and their various component parts. This low-budget film definitely foreshadows Kubrick as one of the most amazing talents in cinematic history.

Dial 1119

Dial 1119