For Whom the Bell Tolls

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

Released Jul 14, 1943

2h 50m

Drama

Romance

Adventure

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Popcornmeter

64%

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14 Reviews

61%

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50+ Ratings

In this adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's popular novel, idealistic American Robert Jordan (Gary Cooper) travels to Spain to join the guerrilla forces opposing dictator Francisco Franco. Jordan, who is given the dangerous task of blowing up a bridge that lies behind enemy lines, gets sidetracked when he falls for partisan Spanish girl María (Ingrid Bergman) at base camp. As Jordan's love for María grows, he begins to question his assignment, his politics and his place in this foreign war.

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Jack Karr

Toronto Star

A few carping critics have said that Mr. Hemingway's novel, while proving to be his finest work, should never have been more than a short story. The screen treatment seems to bear this out.

Nov 10, 2022

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Jesús Fernández Santos

El Pais (Spain)

We never know for whom the bell tolls, or why, or how. Everything is reduced to a love story and to another story about how to blow up a bridge. [Full Review in Spanish]

Jul 31, 2019

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James Agee

The Nation

The rhythm of this film, in fact, is the most defective I have ever seen in a superproduction.

Sep 14, 2012

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Scott Nash

Three Movie Buffs

Not horrible, but if you really want to know this story, don't bother with the movie at all. Go out and read the book.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 24, 2009

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Though diffuse and overlong, and its politics vague, the film's star performances of Ingrid Bergman and Gary Cooper are appealing; Hemingway wrote the novel with Coop in mind.

Rated: B

Feb 5, 2008

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Robin Clifford

Reeling Reviews

Rated: 3/5

Nov 19, 2004

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babarizam

I think Gary Cooper was a wrong cast. I watched parts of movie just after reading the book and he doesn't fit the impression of the character I had in mind.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/18/24

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sheila k

Might have been good 50 years ago but I should have read the book!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Really weak performances and clumsy directorship

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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jizzy b

It was a funny show.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/22/21

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steve d

Nothing memorable despite it's reputation.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

bad acting, bad dialogues, boring photography, boring movie. while i love watching old movies, i dont recomend this one.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Sam Wood

Director

Gary Cooper

Robert Jordan

Ingrid Bergman

María

Katina Paxinou

Pilar

Akim Tamiroff

Pablo

Arturo de Cordova

Agustín

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Synopsis

In this adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's popular novel, idealistic American Robert Jordan (Gary Cooper) travels to Spain to join the guerrilla forces opposing dictator Francisco Franco. Jordan, who is given the dangerous task of blowing up a bridge that lies behind enemy lines, gets sidetracked when he falls for partisan Spanish girl María (Ingrid Bergman) at base camp. As Jordan's love for María grows, he begins to question his assignment, his politics and his place in this foreign war.

Director: Sam Wood
Producer: Sam Wood
Screenwriter: Dudley Nichols
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Drama, Romance, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 14, 1943, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Runtime: 2h 50m

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