Search - Adolph Green, Jule Styne, Betty Comden :: Bells Are Ringing (1960 Film Soundtrack)

A lovely recording

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 06/04/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the film soundtrack to BELLS ARE RINGING, which again features the incantory Judy Holliday as Ella Peterson, the lovestruck telephone operator. If you only want to buy one of the three currently-available recordings of BELLS ARE RINGING, this is the one to get.This recording has long been the favorite of many admirers of this score, primarily because of Andre Previn's gorgeous new arrangements, and secondly because of the better performance of Judy Holliday, who is more polished here than on the original Broadway cast-album. Added to the mix is crooner Dean Martin, who turns the rather passive character of Jeff Moss into a more fully-realised character in the piece.There are also seasoned Broadway veterans Eddie Foy Jr. and Hal Linden who both make the most out of their brief moments on disc. The highlights on this reissue by the good folks at DRG include "It's a Perfect Relationship", "I Met a Girl" and "It's a Simple Little System". Listeners will delight on Holliday and Martin's snappy wordplay in "Just in Time", and will be swept up into musical-comedy heaven with "The Party's Over". The brand-new Overture is a delight, too.I own all three recordings (original Broadway w/ Holliday and the revival w/ Faith Prince) but this is the recording I play most often.Highly-recommended."

It's a charmer; for the second time on CD

Michael G. Campbell | Hayward, CA United States | 06/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The CD is a charmer, but contrary to the advertising, the 1960 "Bells Are Ringing" soundtrack has been on CD before, back in 1989. The CD version sounded great then, and it sounds great now. Lushly orchestrated film versions of Broadway shows usually sound swell on CD, and often make up for their film's flaws. Normally, the star's voices are fresh and rested (not ragged from eight stage appearances a week)and the performances are top-notch ("Paint Your Wagon" is still the big exception). "Bells Are Ringing," is a good film, but again, like virtually all stage-to-screen musicals, that little something always gets lost. On the plus side, several lesser songs were dropped, and the two replacements, "Better Than A Dream" (a counterpoint song just made for stereo) and "Do It Yourself" make the soundtrack far more pleasant than the Broadway album. In fact, "Better Than a Dream" was quickly added to the revised stage show after 1960. Why "Do It Yourself" wasn't added is a mystery -- it's far superior to its original stage counterpart "Independent" and serves the same purpose as the "You've Got to Do It" soliliquy that has never been recorded. Judy Holliday is wonderful, of course, and Dean Martin is quietly charming."

"Made In Hollywood, USA"

Michael G. Campbell | 05/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Film director George Sidney's (died May 5, 2002) 1960 movie musical version of Bell's Are Ringing provided a fine LP recording of Jule Styne, Comden and Green's gently sentimental and always humorous score. The effective musical direction was provided by Andr'e Previn resulting in a recording that many find preferable to the stage version. Judy Holiday and a correctly restrained, warm voiced Dean Martin provide the musical with the sparkling spirit needed. DGR has provided a perfect sounding stereo CD with an informative booklet. P.S. Two other LP movie soundtracks that are considered by some to be more enjoyable listening experiences than their stage versions are: Half A Sixpence and Finian's Rainbow. It would be wonderful to have them available on CD."