A Bell for Adano was dramatized and became relatively successful as a Broadway play. In August 1945, Twentieth Century Fox released a film version. It is usually described as one of the better films for that year, as well as one of director Henry King's more sensitive accomplishments. The scenes depicting the replacement of Adano's town bell and of the return of its prisoners of war are very effective. The town's bell had been melted down by the military for bullets, and Joppolo commandeered one from an American warship to replace it, thus helping to restore the pride of the citizens of Adano in their town. King included newsreels to heighten the realism of his film. John Hodiak played Major Joppolo, and William Bendex his sergeant.

Both were familiar to moviegoers from other war movies they had made. Gene Tierney played Tina.

Movie critics have often said that this...