Universal Cinema Classics Region 2 PAL Spain DVD release. Format: 4:3 (as original theatrical version). Running time: 1h46mins. B&W, digitally restored. Audio: English, Spanish. Subtitles: English, Spanish (optional). In 1939, American Tom Martin, who fought in the Spanish Civil War, awaits execution at the hands of the Fascist victors when reporter Augusta 'Gusto' Nash, for a scoop, aids him in an audacious escape. Of course, Tom tries to romance Gusto; but though she likes him, her career comes first, and Tom himself prefers freedom-fighting to settling down. Comedy becomes drama as their mixed feelings lead them on a circuitous path through the deepening chaos and catastrophe of the early days of World War II. Written by Rod Crawford <[email protected]> Screenplay by Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett and Jacques Thery.
M**K
Pristine copy of a superb movie.
I agree with Halliwell who gave it three stars ( very good for Halliwell) . I find it a much more entertaining movie than Skylark the other Milland/Colbert movie
S**G
Four Stars
Good example of Wilder script just before he launched himself as director/writer.
B**E
Five Stars
fine
A**A
Have a poo instead
Ray Milland (Tom) is awaiting execution in Franco's Spain when he gets a last minute reprieve courtesy of his wife's intervention. Only his wife, Claudette Colbert (Augusta) isn't really his wife. She's a reporter looking for a story. They make a run for it when their deception is discovered and then the film plays out as a romance set against the beginning of World War 2.Basically, nothing happens in this film. It's very talky. The actors are just given too many words to rattle off to each other without the film ever going anywhere. After about an hour, when nothing had happened, I paused the film and went to have a poo. This gave me the very welcomed experience of actually being entertained as I got to read another chapter of my book - "And I Don't Want To Live This Life" by Deborah Spungen, mother of Nancy Spungen (as of Sid and Nancy fame/legend). When I resumed the film, it just continued in a very boring manner with not a lot happening and lots of words.Question - where are the Hebrides? The answer according to this film is off the coast of Ireland. Yeah, just like Spain is off the coast of Norway. At the beginning of the film, the best part, the soldier being executed marches in time with his executors to his fate. No way. Why is he marching in time to the tune of his enemy killers? While the 2 leads, Colbert and Milland, do work well together and are very likable stars, they unfortunately just get bogged down with sappy shenanigans. The story is just unbelievable tosh. I can't recommend it because the film is boring.
G**N
Interesting and quite romantic drama with Claudette Colbert and Ray Milland
Claudette Colbert and Ray Milland have excellent chemistry in this drama set in 1930's Spain and Paris. CC plays an intrepid journalist who through sheer pluck and guts manages to get Ray Milland's PoW realeased, in order to snag a journalistic scoop. The rest of the movie is essentially her wanting to be a career woman and him pursuing her. The two leads are very good and there are some quite romantic scenes. It is also interesting that he is so open about her feelings for her (it strikes me as quite modern, and let's face it, rather attractive and unusual in a movie of that time).The film is also notable in its interventionst slant, arguing indirectly (and sometimes quite directly) that the US should enter the war.All this aside, this is a romantic drama, with two leads who really do play very well off one another. Highly recommend it!It has English audio and English subtitles.
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