Ernest Hemingway was always fascinated by the armed conflicts on the European Continent. When the First World War broke out, he signed on to the International Red Cross to be an ambulance driver at the Italian front. Years later, during the bloody Spanish Civil War, he travelled to Madrid and Barcelona to cover that battle for the North American Newspaper Alliance. Hemingway then described his experiences in "For Whom the Bell Tolls". A book many critics rightly consider to be one of the author's most important works.
Paramount Pictures bought the film rights just a few years after "For Whom the Bell Tolls" was published. Something that wasn't popular in every circle. Organizations such as the "Legion of Decency" and "Free America" had already condemned Hemingway's book for its radical content. In addition, the Spanish consulate tried to stop the upcoming movie because they believed it gave an inaccurate view of what had happened during the conflict.
Aware of the problem, Paramount hired a group of writers who worked on the screenplay for months. By the time they finished, most of the political elements had disappeared from the story. Instead, the film concentrates on the action and on the love affair between Gary Cooper's and Ingrid Bergman's characters. The production team then moved on to the Sierra Nevada mountains for the outdoor scenes - a difficult location shoot that sent the movie way over budget.
Despite the criticism that the film painted a much too positive picture of the International Brigades, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" opened strongly in theaters across the United States. Most reviewers also gave it a positive rating, especially when talking about Gary Cooper's and Ingrid Bergman's performances in the lead roles. But in Spain, it was another matter. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" wasn't allowed to be shown in that country until well into the 1970s.
Paramount Pictures bought the film rights just a few years after "For Whom the Bell Tolls" was published. Something that wasn't popular in every circle. Organizations such as the "Legion of Decency" and "Free America" had already condemned Hemingway's book for its radical content. In addition, the Spanish consulate tried to stop the upcoming movie because they believed it gave an inaccurate view of what had happened during the conflict.
Aware of the problem, Paramount hired a group of writers who worked on the screenplay for months. By the time they finished, most of the political elements had disappeared from the story. Instead, the film concentrates on the action and on the love affair between Gary Cooper's and Ingrid Bergman's characters. The production team then moved on to the Sierra Nevada mountains for the outdoor scenes - a difficult location shoot that sent the movie way over budget.
Despite the criticism that the film painted a much too positive picture of the International Brigades, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" opened strongly in theaters across the United States. Most reviewers also gave it a positive rating, especially when talking about Gary Cooper's and Ingrid Bergman's performances in the lead roles. But in Spain, it was another matter. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" wasn't allowed to be shown in that country until well into the 1970s.