For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943)

Based on “the much heralded” novel by Ernest Hemingway, the part of American school-teacher turned Spanish civil war dynamiter Robert Jordan, was actually written with Gary Cooper in mind, the author and actor being good friends and hunting companions. Cooper is certainly right for the role with his quite Americanism, and Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman somehow ‘kind of works’ as the young Spanish girl he falls in love with among the Republican resistance. However mostly this movie was long and boring, it probably works as a novel, but with the exception of the much built up raid at the end of the film, fails as movie (though the cinematography is often rather nice). At 2 hours 45 minutes its too much ughh for not enough ummm. 2 out of 5. Hemingway film translations often seem a bit awkward.

For a much better movie about blowing up a bridge see: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)