For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943, Drama)

Starring: Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, and Katina Paximou. Director: Sam Wood; novel Ernest Hemingway

I remember reading this novel, and thinking, "What a waste!" I was disappointed in myself for wasting my time reading such drival. However, the film was quite a bit better, surprise, surprise. Maybe, the characters were so much more appealing on the screen. Maybe, the love story between Robert and Maria was more real, as you watched them interact with each other. One can see how Cooper and Bergman received their nominations, but the winner for Best Supporting Actress stole the show. Katina Paximou was wonderful as Pilar, the stubborn, hard headed female leader! Pilar is not pivotal in this production, but still the romance between Roberto and Maria will go down in history as a literary classic. Great dialogue. It took me a couple viewings to understand their accents, so I would only recommend this movie if the novel has already been read, because if the book had never been read before, I would have had little luck comprehending the plot or understanding the rapid conversations. Okay movie! :-)