Aggiungi una trama nella tua linguaIn 1930s Cuba, a bank clerk and an American mercenary assist a revolutionary group in a plan to kill the President but the Cuban Secret Police chief and the dictator's military complicate th... Leggi tuttoIn 1930s Cuba, a bank clerk and an American mercenary assist a revolutionary group in a plan to kill the President but the Cuban Secret Police chief and the dictator's military complicate the plan's execution.In 1930s Cuba, a bank clerk and an American mercenary assist a revolutionary group in a plan to kill the President but the Cuban Secret Police chief and the dictator's military complicate the plan's execution.
- Regia
- Sceneggiatura
- Star
- Premi
- 1 vittoria in totale
- Armando Ariete
- (as Pedro Armendariz)
- Toto
- (as Jose Perez)
- Mama
- (non citato nei titoli originali)
- Cart Driver
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- Diplomat
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- Mother
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- Celebrant
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- Altar Boy
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- Citizen
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Recensioni in evidenza
The best scene in the film is between Jones and Pedro Armendariz, who plays a secret policeman, Ariete. He is deeply suspicious of Fenner and is sure that China is his lover. While the revolutionaries hide outside in the rain, he eats and bullies, threatens, and flirts with China, who is terrified but tries to keep calm. A taut, excellent scene. All of the acting is excellent - Jones, wearing darker makeup and sporting an accent, is very good as well as beautiful. Garfield does a good job as Fenner, and Gilbert Roland is a standout. The last 15 minutes of the film are very exciting, with the last scene being poetic but failing to be upbeat, which was perhaps the intention. It's a downer.
A very good movie that for some reason didn't get everyone in it in trouble and accused of being a Communist - surprisingly, Garfield's appearance in the movie had nothing to do with his eventual blacklisting. I guess "We Were Strangers" was too obscure.
A thriller with dramatic elements, including intrigue, tension and romance. This is one of John Huston's main films , though very obscure, a model of his kind , definitely a must see if you are fan to this great filmmaker. A decent flick in which the intrigue is entertaining on its own , this is one of John Huston's best films , a model of his kind , definitely a must see if you are aficionado to intense dramas. Resulting to be an offbeat story with revolutionary content, about a matter subject not very common in Hollywood, the overthrow of an entire South American government by violent means, nothing less than a strong explosion that eliminates the country's main ministers. Huston broke a new ground with this movie , providing exciting scenes and unforgettable dialogs. The fim depicts a large number of physical challenges facing the team, especially , the digging of a tunnel from China's cellar, across the street to the cemetery so that the bomb can be transported undetected. Describing throughout the emotional challenges which provide the biggest hurdles in carrying out the plan successfully, and usually harassed and pursued by a nasty Cuban Secret Police chief.
It contains atmospheric cinematography in black and white by cameraman Russell Metty, shot on location in La Havana, Cuba and in Columbia studios . Notable production design and art direction with evocative sets . As well as rousing and lively soundtrack by composer George Antheil. This film flopped at the box office and was withdrawn from theaters shortly after it was released. It suffered from the many reviews pointing out its pro-Marxist and communist politics. The movie was well directed by the great John Huston at his best , its tense filmmaking makes this crackerjack entertainment. The flick was made in a good time when Huston made some masterpieces . Later on , he directed other good pictures, such as ¨The Red Badge of Courage¨(1951), ¨The unforgiven¨ and ¨Night of Iguana¨ (1964) , they were for the most part , well-regarded but certainly not close to the level of his earlier revered work . He also experimented behind-the-camera with colour effects and approached topics that most others would not even broach , including thoughtful and provoking themes and psychoanalysis . He subsequently directed other successes. Huston had good time of the 60s , 70s and 80s when Huston resurged as a director of quality films with Fat City, (1972), The man who would be king (1975) and Wise blood (1979). He ended his career on a high note with ¨Under volcano¨ (1984), ¨Honor of Prizzi¨ (1985) and ¨Dublineses¨ (1987) . Essential and indispensable watching for Jennifer Jones and John Garfield fans. A real must see for John Huston enthusiasts. Rating We Were Strangers(1949) : 6.5/10, above average , worthwhile seeing. A major movie achievement by any standard.
John Huston's directing is visually compelling. The subject matter is compelling. What this movie needs is a more suitable rooting interest. Tony is shown to be callous early on. The only possible one is China. This should be her movie. She could be pulled into the revolution but still holding onto her ideals about saving the innocent. It needs to be much later before she finally realizes that neither side cares. Dismissing civilian casualties so early in the movie is really off-putting and leaves no one to root for. It's an interesting movie but it lacks a central character which can take the place of the audience.
"We were strangers " is in the center of Huston's work:one of his permanent features was failure ("treasure" "asphalt" "misfits" ).the heroes of "strangers" are in a way ,misfits:they do not mix with the people and they do not feel that history is moving faster than they do.Forget the political background which may seem,to some,naive and vague :sometimes we wonder whether the heroes themselves are believing in what they are doing:hear this little ditty one of them sings as a leitmotiv ("we are digging all day,we are digging all night" "We were strangers" shows Huston's fascination for death: it would reappear in the overlooked "walk with love and death" ,in the dance macabre at the beginning of " under the volcano" and it is even more glaring in the director's final opus "the dead' where one of the characters ,still alive,appears on her deathbed.
Fighting against the tyrants is one good thing:doing so by digging a tunnel to get to a graveyard to kill one of the men of the dictatorship,Huston challenges realism!"there are two parts in the cemetery,says Jones ,one for the poor,one for the rich" even in death...
Jones ,some kind of romantic passionnaria (the part was tailor made for her- and Garfield an idealist American are part of the odd couples who are numerous in Huston's work:"African queen" "Heaven knows..." or "Roots of heaven" or "the Barbarian and the geisha" or "Annie" or...you name it...
a Huston which should not sink into oblivion....
Lo sapevi?
- QuizJohn Huston wanted a then almost-unknown Marilyn Monroe for a part in this movie. He made it about Cuban rebels at the time Monroe had a contract with Columbia. But producer Sam Spiegel didn't want to spend money for a screen test of Monroe.
- BlooperThis story takes place during the presidency of Gerardo Machado, which ended in 1933; however, China wears torpedo bras, which did not come into fashion until World War II; likewise China's hair style and clothing are also strictly 1949, not 1932-1933.
- Citazioni
Guillermo Montilla: [Seeing that Tony is dead] Dear God. It's bad to die five minutes too soon.
- ConnessioniFeatured in The John Garfield Story (2003)
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Dettagli
- Data di uscita
- Paese di origine
- Lingue
- Celebre anche come
- We Were Strangers
- Luoghi delle riprese
- L'Avana, Cuba(2nd unit backgrounds and exteriors only)
- Azienda produttrice
- Vedi altri crediti dell’azienda su IMDbPro
Botteghino
- Budget
- 900.000 USD (previsto)
- Tempo di esecuzione1 ora 46 minuti
- Colore
- Proporzioni
- 1.37 : 1