11 Comments
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HM's avatar

Now I will need to find the book, as I have always liked the movie. A reminder that bells are life affirming, and anchored people to their village

homes for centuries. Happy fourth!

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Fr. Scott Bailey, C.Ss.R.'s avatar

A happy and joyful Independence Day to everyone in the Word & Song community!

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Debra Esolen's avatar

Thank you, Father! God bless America!

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Fr. Scott Bailey, C.Ss.R.'s avatar

I remember the book. I read it during an Italian phase. I was reading (almost) anything set in Italy. Now I’m looking forward to the movie. Thank you!

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Anthony Esolen's avatar

Thanks! I read the book when I was in high school and haven't since then. I should pick it up again. Hersey was an arch-liberal in the days when a real man could be one without committing to this or that sexual insanity.

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Bob Curtin's avatar

I listened while walking my dog. Sometimes the AI voice has trouble with abbreviations giving a little humor. “They wanted a bell to tell them when to go to Massachusetts “. Oh-kay. I guess that’s important 🙂

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Debra Esolen's avatar

Bob, we try to cancel the "transcript" on podcasts but didn't realize until your comment that people might be listening to the written essays with an AI rendering. How do we despise AI? Let me count the ways -- no, the ways are innumerable.

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Amy De Rosa's avatar

Debra—no, don’t despise poor AI. I’m still laughing about the Sicilians getting to Massachusetts on time. 😆

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Debra Esolen's avatar

Haha.. yes, good for a laugh! But when you write for a living and are known for a particular style.. ack! The auto-generated transcripts of Tony's recordings are utterly horrible. We do have to nix those. Alas!

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Steve Terenzio's avatar

Yet another gem from a great decade of movies that I missed until now - thank you. Just a nod toward director Henry King, not as highly profiled as some others from the "golden age," but was in charge of the masterpiece The Song of Bernadette, among others in a long career.

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Julienne Smith's avatar

I read this book so long ago and had forgotten it. Thank you for the sweet reminder. I will read this again as an older and wiser being. Such a relief from the cold, stark, raging news of today.

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