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Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, Akim Tamiroff, Katina Paxinou, Arturo de Córdova ... see more see more... , Vladimir Sokoloff , Mikhail Rasumny , Fortunio Bonanova , Victor Varconi , Eric Feldary , Joseph Calleia , Lilo Yarson , Alexander Granach , Adia Kuznetzoff , Leonid Snegoff , Leo Bulgakov , Duncan Renaldo , George Coulouris , Frank Puglia , Pedro de Cordoba , Michael Visaroff , Konstantin Shayne , Jean Del Val , Jack Mylong , Feodor Chaliapin Jr. , Mayo Newhall , Michael Dalmatoff , Robert Tafur , Trina Varela , Dick Botiller , Franco Corsaro , Frank Lackteen , George Sorel , John Bleifer , Harry Cording , William Edmunds , Alberto Morin , Pedro Regas , Soledad Jiminez , Manuel Paris , Ernesto Morelli , Manuel López , Jose Luis Tortosa , Yakima Canutt , Tito Renaldo , Maxine Ardell , Marjorie Deanne , Yvonne De Carlo , Alice Kirby , Marcella Phillips , Lynda Grey , Christopher King , Louise LaPlanche , Charles Bickford , Eduardo Ciannelli , Martin Garralaga , Victor Laplace

Based on the novel by Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls is a romantic drama set against the turbulent tapestry of the Spanish Civil War. Gary Cooper plays Robert Jordan, an idealistic American... read more read more... fighting with a Spanish guerilla band. He is assigned to blow up a crucial bridge in order to halt the enemy's progress. He falls in love with Maria (Ingrid Bergman), a young peasant girl who's joined the fight after being ill-used by enemy troops. Pablo (Akim Tamiroff), the eternally drunken leader of the guerillas, resents Jordan's attentions toward Maria, and he refuses to help Jordan in his sabotage work. Pablo's wife Pilar (Oscar-winner Katina Paxinou) takes over command of the guerillas and helps Jordan by arranging horses for the band's departure after their job is done. The man supplying the horses (Joseph Calleia) is killed, and Jordan is left to finish his task minus a means to escape. For Whom the Bell Tolls was a long, faithful adaptation of the Hemingway novel, with excellent performances, torrid love scenes, and first-rate Technicolor photography. Available for many years only in the 130-minute reissue version, it was restored to nearly its full original length of 168 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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66% liked it

3,749 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

12 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 10 min.

Directed by: Sam Wood

Release Date: January 1, 1943

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DVD Release Date: November 17, 1998

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Stats: 162 reviews

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Gary Cooper in For Whom the Bell Tolls For Whom the Bell Tolls Gary Cooper & Ingrid Bergman in For Whom the Bell Tolls Cooper and Bergman Gary Cooper & Ingrid Bergman in For Whom the Bell Tolls Ingrid Bergman in For Whom the Bell Tolls For Whom the Bell Tolls Ingrid Bergman in For Whom the Bell Tolls Gary Cooper in For Whom the Bell Tolls Katina Paxinou in For Whom the Bell Tolls Ingrid Bergman, Katina Paxinou, and Gary Cooper in For Whom the Bell Tolls For Whom the Bell Tolls Katina Paxinou with Oscar for For Whom the Bell Tolls For Whom the Bell Tolls Katina Paxinou in For Whom the Bell Tolls Katina Paxinou in For Whom the Bell Tolls Ingrid Bergman in For Whom the Bell Tolls Katina Paxinou & Ingrid Bergman in For Whom the Bell Tolls
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Flixster Reviews (162)

  • hunterjt13
    November 15, 2011
    hunterjt13
    During the Spanish Civil War, an American mercenary works with a local group of fighters to blow up a bridge.
    I've written before that if there's a heaven, it must involve being loved by Natalie Wood. There's no reason not to add Ingrid Bergman to that list. Can you imagine bot... read moreh of them? It's hard enough to get one.
    Bergman and Gary Cooper maximize the small amount of time the story dedicates to their love affair, and they make what seems convenient believable.
    In typical Hemingway fashion, the story is about manhood and war but also love. And the group of people Cooper's character encounters are all round, interesting characters with complex backstories and intentions. Nobody is villainized, but it's nonetheless clear whom Hemingway respects.
    Cooper, whose reserved performance in Pride of the Yankees can't be underestimated, was, I thought, too reserved in this film, especially at the end. I think the film needed an emotional explosion, a last gasp for hope and love in spite of the degradation that surrounded him.
    Overall, this is a Hemingway story, so you know it's good, and the three hours goes by quickly.
  • jjnxn
    December 12, 2009
    jjnxn
    Some solid performances can't compensate for the extreme overlength of this. An hour's editing could have made this a fine film but it just goes on and on, plus Cooper and Ingrid while individually fine have little chemistry.
  • bbcfloridabound
    July 8, 2009
    bbcfloridabound
    My Good Friend from flixster ViVi told me to see this movie, she has become my sweetheart. So many of the movies she has told me about I should have seen years ago, and I have found each one to be exciting. Growing up I never saw many Gary Cooper Films, oh they were on TV just d... read moreidn't have a interest, that was my lost, these are good films, and his teaming up with Ingrid Bergman is a positive match. For a movie filmed in 1943, these actors were all head of the class during that time. Its an exciting film with a big flair for WWII. They just don't make them like this anymore and there isn't an actor today that can stand up to these actors (Oh you say what about Tom Cruise , PLEASE!). This gets 5 Stars.
  • historyluver
    August 15, 2007
    historyluver
    Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman are a made to order first-rate couple. They make this movie enjoyable. Though not the best of either of their movies, it is one that should be seen and cherished by all!
  • mtoothman
    April 9, 2007
    mtoothman
    Gary Cooper as the Hemingway hero of the Spanish Civil War. This is the Hollywood version, but not bad given that.
  • pippinfresh
    September 1, 2006
    pippinfresh
    It can get rather boring at times, but I love Ingrid Bergman and Gary Cooper far too much to complain.

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Critic Reviews

Scott Nash
March 24, 2009
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. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
February 5, 2008
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. Full Review

Moira Sullivan
May 11, 2003
Moira Sullivan, FilmFestivals.com

Ingrid Bergman in an unusual role as an enabler to stoic Cooper during the Spanish Civil War.

Ken Hanke
October 2, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Overlong and not wholly convincing

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
February 28, 2002
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies

Cooper is great as the knowing and weary Robert. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Michael Szymanski
June 1, 2005
Michael Szymanski, International Press Academy

No review available.

Robin Clifford
November 19, 2004
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews

No review available.

Christopher Null
September 19, 2004
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Click to read the article Full Review

Carol Cling
January 23, 2004
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

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    • Maria: I do not know how to kiss, or I would kiss you. Where do the noses go?
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For Whom the Bell Tolls Trivia

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