BELLS ARE RINGING (1960)

Judy Holliday was a vivacious talent whose premature death robbed the film industry of her comic genius.  The Oscar winner lit up any project she appeared in, and never was that more evident than in this musical comedy, where she even makes lackluster co-star Dean Martin shine.  Here she plays Ella Peterson, a Brooklyn answering service operator who somehow can't seem to stay out of the personal lives of her clients (using information gleaned from one, say, to benefit another).  No one knows her as Ella, as she sort of "plays" different characters on the phone, depending on the client's needs - but when she's forced to come to the aid of a struggling writer (Martin) who knows her only as "Mom" on the phone, Ella finds herself falling in love - and her life becoming a lot more complicated.  A subplot involving gangsters is fun, if a bit silly, but with a stellar supporting cast, a wonderful score, and plenty of laughs, Bells Are Ringing remains at the top of my favorites list over thirty years after I first saw it. (not rated) ****1/2

BELLS ARE RINGING trailer