Rating: 
Summary: GREAT... but...
Review: ... why these complaints about a widescreen-version? 20th Century-Fox released the first CinemaScope film in 1953(The Robe) in order to outdo TV.... True, there were occassional try-outs like Napoleon in 1927, but the widescreen-system as we know it; came in 1953.FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS is a great as it can get. Bergman in particular shows us natural acting a`la Brando - years before he came to the Hollywood scene... Unfortunately; the two weeks-shooting of Norwegian Vera Zorina as Maria is NOT included on the DVD. Ingrid raplaced her when the ballerina tiptoed through her role; but actually was given the sack because of Cooper, Wood and even Hemingway`s personal interests in Bergman. It would have been nice to see the difference between Vera and Ingrid. The production is lavish and the dialogue intelligent. It was not well-received in 1943 and suffered under the success of Casablanca. However; I think Bergman is at her peak as MARIA and not as ILSA hehehehe
Rating:
Summary: GREAT... but...
Review: ... why these complaints about a widescreen-version? 20th Century-Fox released the first CinemaScope film in 1953(The Robe) in order to outdo TV.... True, there were occassional try-outs like Napoleon in 1927, but the widescreen-system as we know it; came in 1953. FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS is a great as it can get. Bergman in particular shows us natural acting a`la Brando - years before he came to the Hollywood scene... Unfortunately; the two weeks-shooting of Norwegian Vera Zorina as Maria is NOT included on the DVD. Ingrid raplaced her when the ballerina tiptoed through her role; but actually was given the sack because of Cooper, Wood and even Hemingway`s personal interests in Bergman. It would have been nice to see the difference between Vera and Ingrid. The production is lavish and the dialogue intelligent. It was not well-received in 1943 and suffered under the success of Casablanca. However; I think Bergman is at her peak as MARIA and not as ILSA hehehehe
Rating: 
Summary: Gary Cooper plays a good Hemingway Hero!
Review: A very young Cooper stared with Helen Hayes in " A Farewell to Arms". In this film he does even better! Ingrid Bergman was a very young girl and captures the war torn raped Spanish girl so well. This is the screen version of a novel that is a Nobel recognized masterpiece with two of Hollywood's all time stars in lead roles. It is what they mean by a "Classic Film". How I know a classic tragedy is that I dread and hope at the same time when I play it!
Rating:
Summary: Best Hemingway Film Adaptation
Review: For me, FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS is the finest screen adaptation of any of Hemingway's novels. Not only does it star Gary Cooper -- the most complete interpreter of the Hermingway hero on screen -- but it has a luminous performance from Ingrid Bergman in the role of Maria. When it opened in 1943, a criticism centered on the fact that it did not specifically mention Franco. However, what might have been a germane criticism back then is now a genuine plus. Had this been focused on Franco, it now would be a dated period piece. Instead, this story of doomed wartime love remains achingly moving. And its theme of "no man is an island" is still haunting, and the final images stay with you long after the film is over. Cooper's presence is especially fascinating, since this is an ensemble piece, and never once does he use his inconic aura to break free of the ensemble and dominate the screen. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Full screen - are you kidding me?
Review: I cannot believe this film is released on DVD in full screen format only, and not in a widescreen format. Full screen is fine for films that are primarily shot indoors, but to do this to a movie with such scenic grandeur is a crime. This format totally destroys the cinematography and grand vistas of the orignal. Have a heart and release a widescreen version!
Rating:
Summary: DVD is a mixed blessing over the laserdisc
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific and sad
Review: I read the book For Whom The Bell Tolls before I saw the movie. The movie is terrific and sad but the book is better, isn't the book always better? But this movie is a classic for very good reasons. It's a beautiful movie, I recomend it to anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice color, oddly multicultural cast, pure Hollywood.
Review: I've never seen a movie based on Hemingway that came anywhere close to the miracles he achieved in prose. The best was the first 10 minutes or so of The Killers (Willilam Conrad & Charles McGraw - two actors who could actually speak Hemingway). This movie comes somewhere between that and Snows of Kilimanjaro (fine story, rotten movie). A classic of the period in terms of color, lighting, makeup, spectacle, etc., but it is so sound stage artificial and all those accents: Spaniards played by Greeks, Russians & Yanks. Yoicks. Definitely for those who love Cooper & Bergman doing their star-turn schticks.
Rating:
Summary: Music score is superb
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Music score is superb
Review: 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.
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