MovieChat Forums > For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) Discussion > What makes a movie so touching?

What makes a movie so touching?

posted 20 years ago by yoon92
8 replies | jump to latest

Last night I saw the movie Bicycle Thief that got many prizes but I became wondered why this movie got so much attention and praises. To me, the movie was the one that can be said it dipcted the conditon of the society at that time very well but not anything more. Please don't say something like neo-blah,blah. This movie, For whom the Bell Tolls, is, however, quite different and I found I got deeply engrossed. The story? It is relatively simple. Message? classic and not new. Then why I got lost? I can not say clearly it. If I have to specify it, then it may be the expression and atmosphere of Ingrd Bergman or affair between man and woman. Or may be the answer is that feeling is beyond logic and what makes one feel good is good. And If I add some, any body who got deeply impresssed by some movie is a person who got blessed whatever others say abot the movie. Any comments on this?

[–] ozymandias312 20 years ago

Well, I can't answer your question, but I can tell you that the first time I saw _For Whom the Bell Tolls_ on the much-too-late-show on TV in the early or middle 1980s sometime, it just took my breath away. I don't think I had ever been so much on the edge of my seat as during the fight on the bridge, with the tanks approaching.

Oz

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] PandaRoom 15 years ago

For this story, the courage in the face of the odds against them. I have loved the book since I first read it, and the film would have to depart significantly or have really poor acting to ruin it for me!

In general, I need to be able to relate to the characters. It is a combination of the writing, the actors' skill, the directorial choices.

[–] zuzupetal_99 15 years ago

It doesn't matter how much you like an actor/actress, you still have to care about the characters to be touched by a movie, imo. And I really found this movie touching - suspenseful, exciting, engrossing, romantic, tragic, and simply wonderful!

Going in, I thought it'd be a chore to get thru, not just b/c of the length, but also the description of what it was about. But it flew by; I teared up several times, and lost my breath several other times. I really cared about what was happening to Roberto & Maria, and Pilar - the scene where Pilar describes what it's like to be ugly was one of my favorites. Poor Maria's story - telling Roberto about what happened to her family, and then what happened to her & the look on Roberto's face as he tells her he loves her when she believes that nobody could love her or want her after what had been done to her. The ending, how Roberto is able to get Maria to go on, not w/o him, but go on for the both of them, while he stayed behind to fight, and certainly die - all those things the characters did & said made me care about them, even if they were only characters. LOVED this film!!!!

"Are you going to your grave with unlived lives in your veins?" ~ The Good Girl

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] nutsberryfarm 9 years ago

gary cooper's cool hat.

🎍Season's greetings!🎅🌲

[–] mightymac101 9 years ago

Maybe he should have tried to ride off with them at the end?

Screw the broken leg.

[–] marckymarc71 9 years ago

Maybe he should have tried to ride off with them at the end?

Screw the broken leg.

I never read the novel, but I got the impression that it was a BAD break--something like a compound fracture of the femur with arterial damage. By Jordan's reaction he was clearly going into shock.

"Who's running this airline?!"