Several of the previous reviewers have pointed out the real problem with this movie, which I just saw for the first time in half a century. The dialogue is artificial, sometimes very pretentious, sometimes very empty - all that talk of living on through the other, repeated over and over again, etc. The cast is a fine one, and could have done great things with a better script - and perhaps a better director. But too much of what is here is hard to watch.
One scene near the end of the movie makes the point very clearly, when Robert says goodbye to Maria. The situation is very similar to the end of Casablanca, which was in production at the same time with the same leading lady, Bergman. The lines Cooper is given to say farewell to her character and those Bogart has to say goodbye to Elsa make the Casablanca scene so much more powerful. Elsa is so much more interesting, and appealing, than the overly emotional Maria. (Bergman plays them very differently.)
I couldn't recommend that anyone sit through this movie. It's too long, and too uninteresting, for what it delivers. And, despite what other reviewers have written, I found the Technicolor very unnatural and not at all attractive.
Yes, the music was pleasant, but not remarkable.
One scene near the end of the movie makes the point very clearly, when Robert says goodbye to Maria. The situation is very similar to the end of Casablanca, which was in production at the same time with the same leading lady, Bergman. The lines Cooper is given to say farewell to her character and those Bogart has to say goodbye to Elsa make the Casablanca scene so much more powerful. Elsa is so much more interesting, and appealing, than the overly emotional Maria. (Bergman plays them very differently.)
I couldn't recommend that anyone sit through this movie. It's too long, and too uninteresting, for what it delivers. And, despite what other reviewers have written, I found the Technicolor very unnatural and not at all attractive.
Yes, the music was pleasant, but not remarkable.