Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman smoulder in this Hemingway adaptation. Filmed in glorious Technicolour, the two stars give among their best performances amidst the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War.
I wonder why this film seems to be almost forgotten today. It certainly had a huge effect on me after my first viewing- it stayed with me for days. The Cooper-Bergman teaming was amazing. Coop gives a great performance and is very attractive as our hero, Robert Jordan. American Jordan is working for the Republicans, hiding out in the mountains for the opportunity to blow up a bridge. A band of native freedom fighters are assisting him in his task, led by the strong-willed Pilar (Katina Paxinou). With them is the shy, innocent Maria (Ingrid Bergman). Maria has endured a horrible past, with the murder of her parents and her rape (it is implied, though never mentioned because of that Hayes Code)by enemy soldiers. Jordan (who she calls 'Roberto') and Maria fall in love, and Coop fights himself fighting for more than the noble cause.
This is nicely disguised war propaganda from the 40's. World War Two was then in it's element, and a story of the Spanish Civil War with an American hero combating the fascists, communists etc must have seemed appropriate. Still, that assumption is not taking anything from the overall product we have here. It's a great adventure-romance story, well-crafted and handled for it's time. Many comments have been made about the Swedish Bergman playing a Spanish girl, but I for one have no qualms with it. Many Spanish have blonde hair and blue eyes, and Bergman's acting is excellent here. I just love the scene where her character gets her first kiss from Coop. Her line 'I do not know how to kiss, or I would kiss you. Where do the noses go?' is one of the most memorable and sweet in the entire film.
An actress with incredible range, Bergman could play both the innocent and the seductive with ease. Just compare her role here with her Alicia in 'Notorious' (1946). Coop is often accused of being wooden, but his underplaying only adds to his performance. There are never any silly theatrics from Coop, his acting style is quiet, measured and steady, perfectly suiting his character. A colourful range of supporting actors complete the cast. Also there has been criticism of the handling of Hemingway's brisk dialogue. Yes, it loses impact when transferred to the screen, but Coop's last speech to Maria-'Wherever you go, I go'- is never anything but powerfully felt.
9/10.
I wonder why this film seems to be almost forgotten today. It certainly had a huge effect on me after my first viewing- it stayed with me for days. The Cooper-Bergman teaming was amazing. Coop gives a great performance and is very attractive as our hero, Robert Jordan. American Jordan is working for the Republicans, hiding out in the mountains for the opportunity to blow up a bridge. A band of native freedom fighters are assisting him in his task, led by the strong-willed Pilar (Katina Paxinou). With them is the shy, innocent Maria (Ingrid Bergman). Maria has endured a horrible past, with the murder of her parents and her rape (it is implied, though never mentioned because of that Hayes Code)by enemy soldiers. Jordan (who she calls 'Roberto') and Maria fall in love, and Coop fights himself fighting for more than the noble cause.
This is nicely disguised war propaganda from the 40's. World War Two was then in it's element, and a story of the Spanish Civil War with an American hero combating the fascists, communists etc must have seemed appropriate. Still, that assumption is not taking anything from the overall product we have here. It's a great adventure-romance story, well-crafted and handled for it's time. Many comments have been made about the Swedish Bergman playing a Spanish girl, but I for one have no qualms with it. Many Spanish have blonde hair and blue eyes, and Bergman's acting is excellent here. I just love the scene where her character gets her first kiss from Coop. Her line 'I do not know how to kiss, or I would kiss you. Where do the noses go?' is one of the most memorable and sweet in the entire film.
An actress with incredible range, Bergman could play both the innocent and the seductive with ease. Just compare her role here with her Alicia in 'Notorious' (1946). Coop is often accused of being wooden, but his underplaying only adds to his performance. There are never any silly theatrics from Coop, his acting style is quiet, measured and steady, perfectly suiting his character. A colourful range of supporting actors complete the cast. Also there has been criticism of the handling of Hemingway's brisk dialogue. Yes, it loses impact when transferred to the screen, but Coop's last speech to Maria-'Wherever you go, I go'- is never anything but powerfully felt.
9/10.