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Bell for Adano, A
Bell for Adano, A (1944), a drama by Paul Osborn.[Cort Theatre, 296 perf.] Major Victor Joppolo ( Fredric March), an Italian‐American, arrives in Adano, Italy, during the war to head the Allied Military Government in that city. He is sympathetic to the needs of the Sicilians, but his commanding officer, who is stationed far away, is not. When the commander orders that carts not be allowed to impede modern traffic in the village, Joppolo ignores the order. His behavior is reported, and he is ordered transferred, but not before he has gotten the villagers one of the things they most want—a new bell to replace one that the Fascists melted down to make arms. Just as he is leaving, the new bell sounds for the first time. “It shakes the whole damned building,” Joppolo proudly tells his sergeant. With the war still raging, a realistic treatment of its brutalities was out of the question. In a sense, this play, based on John Hersey's novel, looked back to the romantic war plays of earlier times. Thus while the Leland Hayward production was unquestionably timely, it was also sentimental and idealistic.
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Cite this article
Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Bell for Adano, A." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Bell for Adano, A." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-BellforAdanoA.html Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Bell for Adano, A." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-BellforAdanoA.html |
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Bell for Adano, A
Bell for Adano, A, novel by John Hersey (1944, Pulitzer Prize), dramatized (1944) by Paul Osborn.
Major Victor Joppolo, New Yorker of Italian descent, arrives during the invasion of the Sicilian town of Adano to serve as Allied Military Government officer. He and his sergeant Borth have a humane appreciation of the people and ignore the arbitrary orders of the arrogant General Marvin that mule carts may not enter the town. To inspirit the people he replaces the town's ancient bell, whose original the Fascists melted for munitions. Marvin, discovering the violation of his orders, transfers Joppolo elsewhere but not before the people can give him a party. |
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Cite this article
James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Bell for Adano, A." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Bell for Adano, A." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-BellforAdanoA.html James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Bell for Adano, A." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-BellforAdanoA.html |
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