For Whom the Bell Tolls
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Movie Reviews of For Whom the Bell Tolls
Movie Review: For Whom the Bell Tolls
Summary: 5 Stars
Received my used/like new DVD in excellent condition. As advertised, it was like new. Not a flaw in the entire DVD. Proud to add it to my collection.Movie Review: The bell tolls for thee.
Summary: 5 Stars
Buy this movie. The Hemingway novel is brought to life with gusto! Great acting, great story. I am glad it is part of my collection.Movie Review: A Highly Improved Version
Summary: 4 Stars
Hemingway's acknowledged masterpiece about Spanish Civil War guerillas was censored both in print and in film. In print, the four letter words were cut and stilted pseudo-Spanish substituted. That defect of course remains in this pretty much faithful transmission of the text; it is what gives it a funny archaic sound most do not understand. Also, 2 key scenes were cut from the cinema release, to make the story less "brutal" and to emphasize the romance. These episodes were Pilar's telling of the execution of the fascists in her village, and El Sordo's final stand. Thankfully, this version restores both magnificent scenes, making a much tougher, grittier film that is worthy of Hemingway's realism. One could only rate the prior version 3 stars, at best. This however is a first rate American film now being seen for the first time, 60 years later.
The plot is very simple. An American joins the anti-Franco guerillas in the mountains to help them blow a key bridge. The guerillas suspect him and have their own internal problems. The Yank falls in love with a girl who has been brutalized by the fascists. With pluck he sticks to his mission until the film stops.
The romance was tough going in the book, rather euphemistically treated. You could not deal with that realistically at the time, either; Hemingway's story pushed the limits of its time. Cooper and Bergman made the coupling palatable for an American audience then, and reviews here still attest that it works now. Fine; I visualize it much more differently but am confident that EH's idea still would not sell, albeit for different reasons. In any event the romance provides a plot engine to take one through part of a key historical event of the 20th century. Hemingway got over there as a partisan of the Communist opposition, but the novel was balanced enough to infuriate many prominent American reds in the media of his day.
People should read the book, of course. This film is however, a sincere adaptation and faithful to the spirit of its day. Ultimately, Cooper's signature performance nails just the right tone for this presentation of what critics of the day called "grace under pressure."
Movie Review: Music score is superb
Summary: 4 Stars
If you enjoyed A Farewell to Arms as a movie, you'll no doubt enjoy this gem. Although quite long, this movie is a true and solid adaptation of the amazing and extraordinary book. I particularly enjoyed the intense music score - you just don't get that in today's movies. Although Cooper and Bergman are good, the true stellar performance belongs to that of the lady(I don't know her name - obviously) who plays Pilar, who deservedly won The Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Bergman, with her blonde hair, blue eyes, and immaculate makeup job, doesn't exactly fill the role of the Spanish cave-dwelling, recently [attacked] Maria. The only annoyance with Cooper came when, after the horse falls on him and breaks his leg, he tells Maria to go on without him while exhibiting no semblance of pain whatsoever. I know Robert Jordan is stoic and ascetic, but anyone who breaks his leg and is about to die will be in at least some pain - come on. Having said that, I still found the movie to be powerful and provocative - just not as much as the book. But, of course, that goes without saying.
Movie Review: DVD is a mixed blessing over the laserdisc
Summary: 4 Stars
I own the film on Laserdisc, and I would have jumped at the chance to own the DVD for its improved color. However, I note that the overture and entre-acte on the DVD omit a superb collection of studio stills . Sad, since those little plums make the laserdisc an unforgettable version that the DVD makers deemed unnecessary. A great film, whose transfer to DVD is again marred by makers intent on money instead of class. I may still buy the DVD, but I am wary of any other cuts that may have occurred in the DVD version.