For Whom the Bell Tolls (on DVD)

For Whom the Bell Tolls
based on the novel by Ernest Hemingway [DVD For]

It's 1937 and the Spanish Civil is raging. Robert Jordan (Gary Cooper), an American demolitions expert, is assigned to an antifascist guerilla unit that is planning to blow up a bridge to stop Franco's troops from advancing. Jordan is living in a cave high in the Guadarrama Mountains with a group of gypsy loyalists waiting for the right moment to demolish the bridge that spans a deep gorge. During the three days that this tiny band of resistance fighters wait for the right moment to blow up the bridge we watch Jordan falls in love with Maria (Ingrid Bergman), a young woman who was raped by some of Franco's soldiers. We become acquainted with the other members of this motley assortment of freedom fighters. Pablo (Akim Tamiroff) was once the brave leader of this group. Now he is cowardly and appears to be willing to sell out to the opposition for the right price. Pilar (Katina Paxinou) has taken Pablo?s place as the idealistic leader. This is a gripping movie that shows the brutality of war through Robert Jordan's eyes. For Whom the Bell Tolls was based on a novel of the same name by Ernest Hemmingway. Hemingway used his experiences as a war correspondent in Spain during the Spanish civil war as the basis for this bestselling novel. The movie was equally successful It was the top box office hit in 1943. For Whom the Bell Tolls was nominated for nine academy awards. Only Katina Paxinou won an Oscar. And it for best supporting actress. -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

[Also available in a variety of print and audio formats.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

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