The Brotherhood of the Bell

I thought I was the only person who ever saw this film. I've been asking people for years about it and no one I asked had ever heard of it. The recent film 'The Skulls' made me renew my search for some evidence of its existence. At last! It has been a long time since I've seen it but I remember it really blew me away when I did. It was so believable it was spookey. I wish it could be revived on tape or something. What happens to great old TV movies?? If you ever see it listed on late nite TV / STAY UP and WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!

I saw this when I was sixteen, and was struck by how intelligent it was. Ford is superb: smart, baffled, hurt, edgy, terrified. Geer is wonderful. Much like life in a police state, you never know if your friends can be trusted; everytime I saw Smithers on screen, I was waiting for them to ruin it by making him the baddie, but no! I remember how disheartened I was to read a Harlan Ellison essay in which he shrugged it off, and the "so-so" novel on which it was based. Well, I still think that this was one of the best television films ever made. Tnank you, Paul Wendkos!!

I saw this only once -- when it came out when I was ten years old. And I've never forgotten it. To this day I think this is probably the best made-for-TV movie ever.

Being so young when I saw it I'm sure I missed some subtleties, but nevertheless I knew something really wrong and conspiratorial was going on -- it was my first major fictional encounter with overwhelming paranoia and gross injustice, and it has stayed with me my entire life. It may even have been a factor in shaping my detestation of unjustified authority and power elites. I felt such profound, empathetic outrage at what was happening to Glenn Ford...I remember being transfixed the whole time, my blood percolating with anger and worry.

The acting (Glenn Ford was remarkable -- thoroughly convincing), the mood, the story, the crushing anxiety all still resonate within me more than thirty years later.

This is a movie that should see the light of day again -- it really ought to be available on DVD. [10/10]

I saw this in 1970 when it was on TV and it was the beginning of a long fascination with movies of this ilk. The Brotherhood of the Bell paved the way for follow-up films like "The Star Chamber" and "Skulls". I've always wondered if there wasn't some hidden group that has this kind of control, but I know that I've never been recruited (darn it). Personally, I think Glenn Ford should have just carried out his task and put it behind him - but then I guess if he had done that there wouldn't have been a movie. The fact that this theme has appeared in several films convinces me that there must be a "brotherhood" that runs government and finance. But then I've always felt that there are secrets lurking away from the public at Area 51 too.

Glen Ford has always manage to persuade me of his Character in whatever movie he starred in. This film was no different. The story was written by David Karp and directed by Paul Wendkas. It tells the frightening story of an accomplished, successful man Prof. Andrew Patterson who thought he had reached obtained the pinnacle of professional success and the all American Dream. However, in returning to his old College Alma Mater and being reminded of the dark Secret Society, he joined is now pressed into servitude. " The Brotherhood of the Bell " is a frightening film which reminds us, there are and always have been secret organizations who can and will manipulate others to serve their needs. Although the Mafia comes to mind immediately, other groups such as the Free Masons and The Skulls are also threats. In the film, the 'Brotherhood' requires Andrew to seek out a close colleague and persuade him to not make a certain trip abroad. Unable to change his mind, he is thereafter Blackmailed into doing it. Instead of traveling, the friend commits suicide which creates a dizzying and disastrous train of events for Andrew who decides to expose the immensely powerful secret society. He is fired, from his job, considered unbalanced, his Wife leaves him. his family is threatened and he is thereafter ridiculed and ostracized. The end result has actually happened before during the Communist Scare of the 1950s and the Aids Epidemic of the 80's. Today's society is no different and that is why this movie is so important. Glenn Ford does a masterful job. Indeed the lists of fine stars is quite impressive. Stars like Dean Jagger, Maurice Evans and Will Geer make the movie and the terror which accompanied it, unforgettable. Recommended to all Conspiracy buffs. ****