We Were Strangers (1949)

56% of users liked it
(98 ratings)

Set in the Cuba of 1933, We Were Strangers stars John Garfield as revolutionary-minded Tony Fenner. A member of an underground movement dedicated to toppling the despotic Machado regime, Tony supervises the booby-trapping of a cemetery where several top Cuban officials are planning to converge for a… More Set in the Cuba of 1933, We Were Strangers stars John Garfield as revolutionary-minded Tony Fenner. A member of an underground movement dedicated to toppling the despotic Machado regime, Tony supervises the booby-trapping of a cemetery where several top Cuban officials are planning to converge for a state funeral. Also involved in the assassination scheme is China Valdes (Jennifer Jones), whose brother had been executed by the government. As often happens in a John Huston film, the best-laid schemes of the protagonists go tragically awry. Based on a portion of Robert Sylvester's novel Rough Sketch, We Were Strangers was scripted by frequent Huston collaborator Peter Viertel. The film has the curious distinction of being lambasted by both the left-wing and right-wing critics in the U.S. Audiences were likewise underwhelmed, compelling Columbia Pictures to withdraw the film from distribution early on. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: John Huston
Written By: John Huston
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Apr 27, 1949 Wide
On DVD: Feb 22, 2005

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
The stark claustrophobia of the compositions is continuously goosed by urgent surrealism
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Grim historical thriller.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...engaging...

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Political drama of the initial Cuban upheaval pre-1933. Shown from the vantage point of the revolutionaries and their plot to overthrow the oppressive government in one fell swoop this is an unusual film for it's time period in that it doesn't shrink away from stating that… More
Political drama of the initial Cuban upheaval pre-1933. Shown from the vantage point of the revolutionaries and their plot to overthrow the oppressive government in one fell swoop this is an unusual film for it's time period in that it doesn't shrink away from stating that the freedom workers might have to take innocent lives to acheive their goals. Huston's direction is assured and Garfield and Roland acquit themselves well but the picture is marred by two things. First is the overly obvious rear projection shots that occure throughtout the film and the larger problem that Jones is miscast in a part that would have fit Katy Jurado like a glove. She seems neither gritty enough, she is consistently glamourous even when digging beneath a cemetery!!, nor even remotely Cuban to be believable. Not a bad film just flawed.

Cast

            Jennifer Jones as China Valdes

            John Garfield as Tony Fenner

            Pedro Armendáriz as Armando Ariete

            Gilbert Roland as Guillermo

            Ramon Novarro as Revolutionary Leader

            Wally Cassell as Miguel

            David Bond as Ramon

            Jose Perez as Toto

            Morris Ankrum as Bank manager

            Leonard Strong as Bombmaker

            Robert Tafur as Rubio

            Mimi Aguglia as Mama

            Argentina Brunetti
            
            Spencer Chan
            
            Lelia Goldoni as Consuelo

            Roberta Haynes as Lolita

            Ted Hecht as Enrico

            Rodolfo Hoyos Jr.
            
            Robert Malcolm Young as Priest

            Paul Marion as Truck Driver

            Rodd Redwing
            
            Tito Renaldo as Manolo

            Julian Rivero as Flower Vendor

            Felipe Turich as Spy

            Harry J. Vejar as Watchman

            Peter Virgo as Contreras' Chauffeur

            John Huston as Clerk

            Billy Wilson
            
            Freddie Chapman as Altar Boy

            Tina Menard
            
            Abdullah Abbas
            
            Gertrude Chorre
            
            Fred Godoy as Contreras

            Herschel Graham
            
            Alfonso Pedroza as Sanitation Man

            Joe Sawaya as Bits

            Thomas Quon Woo
            
            Paul Monte
            
See full cast