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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!!!!!!!!!

The Brotherhood of the Bell is an elite fraternity whose members effectively control much of the government and non-government power in the U.S. Glenn Ford's character is a disillusioned member of the Brotherhood who attempts to expose it following the suicide of a friend whom it has victimized. Ford's attempts to expose the Brotherhood bring its power to bear on him, resulting in the destruction of his reputation, his job, and even his marriage. So convincing was this movie that I was left with the impression that much of the real power in this country could indeed be held by an elite oligarchy of rich and powerful people without the awareness of the general populace. See this one if you can.

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. ****

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!!

Glen Ford is a successful professor -- an elite member of society. Little does he know that his membership in a fraternity known as the "Brotherhood of the Bell" guaranteed him much of his success. It has been over 30 years since I saw this movie on TV and I still remember William Conrad (Bart) and his ding-a-ling bell. What a pathetic excuse for a human being. Glen Ford's troubled character is also memorable, but this movie is not even listed in his credits. What a "sleeper". I hope I can find a copy.

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]

Glenn Ford is quite effective in this conspiracy thriller, He is the middle-aged "Prof. Patterson" who is suddenly faced with quite a dilemma. Many years earlier, he had joined an almost Masonic style group called "The Bell". This is a pretty internecine organisation with tentacles spread throughout the American establishment and woe betides anyone who crosses it. Every now and then it makes demands of it's members, and it falls to "Patterson" to dissuade lifelong friend "Dr. Horvathy" (Eduard Franz) from taking a prestigious position - else he will have to reveal some sensitive information about his past. He's not doing this willingly, indeed if he doesn't then it's his own past that will be splattered all over the media too. Anyway, his friend cannot deal with this and the ensuing tragedy convinces "Patterson" it's time to come clean and expose these people. This is the point when he discovers just how well connected the "Bell" network is, and soon he and his family are under increasing pressure. Director Paul Wendkos has assembled quite a decent cast of television regulars to support his star here, and they deliver quite well in helping to built the sense of frustration and menace that is being experienced by an on-form Ford and Rosemary Forsyth as his not so convincing wife "Vivian". The intense, especially facial, photography helps create a chilling atmosphere and though its really over-scored and a bit too verbal at times, there's still enough of a mystery going on to keep this quite taut to watch.

Professor Andy Patterson (Glenn Ford) has been the member of a secret society, the Brotherhood of the Bell, for many years. However, his faith in this organization is shaken when he's asked to do a 'small favor' for the Bell...to blackmail another professor into turning down an appointment to another university. This blackmail involves possibly turning in the names of all the people who helped the elderly professor escape from the Iron Curtain...and they will likely be murdered or imprisoned. Sadly, Professor Patterson DOES threaten the elderly professor...and many sad things result. And, most importantly, the organization does everything in its power to convince everyone Patterson is insane when he tries to go to the authorities about the Bell.

It's interesting that Will Geer is featured not only in this movie but "Seconds"...which also is all about a secret organization running our world. It also is a bit reminscent of "The Parallax View"...an exceptional and very paranoid film about secret organizations. Both are well worth seeing and among the best of the movies of their eras.

So is it any good? Well, I'm a sucker for paranoia and secret societies in movies...so I liked it. However, there is one problem with the film...Professor Patterson does seem a bit naive and dim at times. It doesn't ruin the movie in any way...but you do question the writing just a bit. Also, near the end, the movie gets a little silly...especially when the Professor goes on TV as well as what follows. Still, it is a dandy film...and shows that made for TV films can be awfully good...though a bit flawed as well in this case.

I saw this topnotch made-for-TV movie when it debuted in 1970, and again several years later, and cannot understand why it is not available on video and DVD, and why, as another writer has pointed out, it does not even appear in Glenn Ford's filmography. The acting is excellent throughout, and the suspense doesn't let up. Though I haven't see it in years, I think of it often; every time I see omnipotent informational gatekeepers (NYT, WaPo, ABC, NBC, CBS) shamelessly working hand-in-hand with one of our major political parties to promote a common agenda. Everyone should see this movie. And everyone should be scared.

I hadn't seen this movie since it was first aired on TV in the early '70s; 30 years later, it is much better than what I recalled. Glenn Ford is at his very best; actually, all of the actors are really great. The script as well as the photography are first class. In an era where we all look for enemies outside North America, it is appropriate to remind ourselves that there might be enemies within. I wish WB would release this movie on DVD.

Absolutely, the finest of all "secret society" plots, with the great Glenn Ford as protagonist par excellance, and a wicked Dean Jagger -- Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy! Why is this not in video? Probably not for some sinister reason -- but a crime nonetheless!!!

The Brotherhood of the Bell is a very good movie by any standard, and is one of the best made-for TV movies I've ever seen. The premise is that there exists an elite fraternity whose members occupy positions of power throughout industry, academia, and virtually all levels of government. Glenn Ford plays a member of the fraternity who, in carrying out an assignment, discovers how insidious its actions can be. As a consequence, he tries to reveal it to the public. He quickly discovers just how powerful the Brotherhood is when he loses his job, his wife, and his reputation for attempting to expose it. I realize that this movie is fictional, but I must admit that it has caused me to suspect that their really is an elite oligarchy in this country which does indeed have enormous power. I wish this movie would be made available on video cassette or DVD. It should not be forgotten.

Those are the three elements that keep this TV movie going then and now. Glenn Ford is great, Paul Wendkos direction is typically controlled and wild at the same time, Jerry Goldsmith writes scary and ironic music for the smug and dangerous secret society, and the script by a long time TV scribe is really fantastic. It manages to hit all the bases including how a true victim of a secret group becomes an even greater victim when he goes public and has every nut in town go after him or even worse claim to be on his side. This is the kind of "true" tough writing that television for all its nudity and profanity since has lost. This is a thriller with thrills but credibility and something to say. Those are rare in any medium.

A belief in secret societies and the like has become almost a conspiracy unto itself in the time since this film was shown, but despite all that cultish interest in conspiracy theories that in itself can be a way to find excuses for the way things are, this movie still works because it seems totally believable on every level.

Certainly one of the best television movies from that great era of television movies, and theatrical films as well. Ah how we should all miss the 1970s as far as filmed entertainment was concerned. This film ages really well. Many of these are lost to DVD regardless of their subject matter, as some other reviewers suggest and conspiracy to keep this movie from view, it's more a matter of dissolved television production companies and partial copyright laws that keep them from getting released, but if the demand grows hopefully this and other television movies will get remastered as they deserve to be. Put this on that list to be among the first released.

Cameron Mitchell had the lead in the original production. Dorothy Green played his wife and Pat O'Brien was his father. Joanne Dru also had a role. David Karp ("Hawkins on Murder", "The Defenders") was the writer.

The 1970 CBS movie version was beautifully directed by Paul Wendkos. The film had an expensive look, almost like a theatrical film. The casting was letter perfect from top to bottom. I particularly enjoyed Rosemary Forsyth, both her acting and her beauty. I don't think I ever saw Rosemary in better form. Dabney Coleman also registered strongly with a low key performance as an FBI agent.

I think David Janssen (who did "Night Chase" for CBS that season) might have been fascinating in the lead, but it would have been hard to beat Glenn Ford.

Glenn Ford and William Conrad both had CBS series the next season: "Cade's County" and "Cannon". CBS should have also found a series for Rosemary Forsyth and Dabney Coleman.

I agree with other posters that this film was unfairly under-praised by the critics in 1970, including TV Guide critic Judith Crist. I'm glad it still has a following.

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.

I saw this movie when it was first released some 35 years ago. I really want to see it again but can't seem to find it anywhere. Is it available on VHS or DVD? I wrote to TCM and AMC as to when it might be on but did not receive an answer. As I recall, it reminded me of the organization that existed at the time called WASP. It had much power in getting things done. Another organization that I read about recently is one that President Bush and Clinton were part of. I don't recall the name but it is another secret society. It's always interesting to note that many movies are based on fact and I believe the brotherhood is. If anyone knows where I can purchase this movie, I would appreciate letting me know. Thanks.

Brotherhood of the Bell, unlike it's progeny The Skulls (1-3 at present), deals with issues of conscience confronting moral adults. Mr. Ford's membership in a secret society (patterned after Yale's Skull and Bones society) forces him into very difficult life choices. I can only imagine these are similar to those facing actual members of this secret elite organization. This film courageously and sensitively throws a light on what it means to follow truth. Both President Bush the First and Second and Mr. John Kerry, are actual members of the Yale secret fraternity. During this last election both were asked (separately at different times and locations) to explain about this group. Both replied from the same script (paraphrasing) "I can't, it's secret!". Video tape available showing this from infowars.com. Isn't this a conflict of interest? An original draft of the 13th Amendment to our US Constitution would have prohibited office seekers from membership in secret organizations. But the strength of Yale College (as it was then called) and the elite "Bonesmen" could never have allowed such a law. Could this also explain why this film, which boldly exposes conspiracy and corrupt loyalties, is never shown on movie channels and rarely if ever found in a video rental store? Buy the video wherever you can find it (the internet has sites where you can find it), watch it and show it to friends. Spread the message. Remember, all that is needed for evil to win is for good men (and women) to do nothing.

The bad thing about this movie is that it is sadly unavailable commercially and it takes some hunting to find it in badly copied DVD or VHS form. I first saw this film late at night in the late 70's and it impressed me greatly. After that,I saw it at least two other times but until recently when I got a DVD that had been copied from the TV,never again. I have always wondered why this film is not issued correctly,since the color is extraordinary in the original print. The acting is extraordinary,specially Mr. Glenn Ford and Dean Jagger,among an excellent cast that includes William Conrad and the great Maurice Evans. It seems that this film is not really somebody's cup of tea. And to this day it has never been seen on AMC or anywhere else for that matter!! Regardless of anybody's views on the subject of secret societies ans so forth,it is a movie worth watching and of it being issued in DVD. Let's hope it appears one day,but I doubt it.