For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) - Sam Wood

This big budget adaptation of Hemmingway's immensely popular novel was generally well received by critics of the time. Watching it today its age shows a little. No one in the cast appears to be anything close to Spanish, most of the politics are ignored, and in typical Hollywood fashion the narrative focuses primarily on romance. Cooper is good, and even Bergman does a decent job despite her credibility as a Spanish peasant. The color helps the film in some ways, and most of the battle sequences are excellently done. In all though the film is lacking in the fire of what made Hemmingway's work great.

*For Whom the Bell Tolls was nominated for best picture, best actor (Cooper), best actress (Bergman), best color art direction, best color cinematography, best editing, best drama or comedy score, best supporting actor (Akim Tamaroff), and won for best supporting actress (Katina Paxinou)