The Nightingale and the Bells


The Nightingale and the Bells is a Canadian musical comedy-drama film, directed by René Delacroix and released in 1952. Considered an important landmark in the Cinema of Quebec, the film stars Gérard Barbeau as Guy Boyer, a young boy with both a penchant for getting into trouble and an exceptionally good singing voice, who is engaged by the local Roman Catholic priest to perform at a concert to raise funds for the church to acquire new bells.
The cast also includes Nicole Germain as Nicole Payette, a concert pianist who is asked to perform at the fundraising concert but is reluctant, and Jean Coutu as René, her impresario boyfriend, as well as Juliette Béliveau, Ovila Légaré, Roger Baulu and Juliette Huot in supporting roles.
The film was shot in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, in 1951, and was released to theatres in early 1952.