This foreign film from 1962 is the true story of the writer's childhood during WWII Paris when he was a young Jewish boy & is sent to live in the countryside where it is presumed to be more safe; but must keep his Jewish identity hidden from the elderly couple that has taken him in. Touching and endearing...I enjoyed this film.
Very ...hmmm..intense disquised by light-heartedness or "happiness". This is hard to handle and uncomfortableness abounds..and yet? No discounting this film or the performances by an all-star cast of characters.
William Powell and Clark Gable are two friends who grow up together but live lifes as adults on opposite sides of the law. Between them stands one beautiful woman they both love played by Myrna Loy who marries William Powell who is running for governor. They remain friends with Clark Gable despite his underworld connections until?...the plot thickens. The title says it all - it's very melodramatic even for it's time but still enjoyable. A bit of triva here is this is the film that John Dillenger saw just before he came out of the theater and was gunned down...all because he had it bad for Myrna Loy. ; -)
Cinematically this is just beautiful. Néstor Almendros actually won an Oscar for Cinematography for this and well deserved. Richard Gere stars in one of his earliest films here in 1978, having replaced John Travolta at the last minute. I think that was a fortunate thing to happen as he was perfect for this role of a Chicago Steel Worker in the early part of the last century who takes to hopping trains and traveling the country with his little sister and his girlfriend untll he arrives on a wheat farm in Texas that is owned by a farmer who is dying (Sam Shepherd). The story just is not as developed as it should be, and it seems to just end awkwardly; but over all it's still a very wothwhile watch.
A remake of the 1958 film & Hemmingway tale. This one stars Anthony Quinn as the old man Santiago and he brings a truly touching performance, but the rest of this particular version does not quite hold up to the original. Still, if you are a fan of Anthony Quinn as I am I would recommend this.