The Pride and the Passion *** (1957, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Sophia Loren, Theodore Bikel) – Classic Movie Review 3075

Producer-director Stanley Kramer assembles a big important cast for his costly, professional, but lumbering and misbegotten 1957 film of C S Forester’s novel The Gun about the capture of a huge cannon by a British naval officer in 19th century Spain.

The Spaniards want to take back their country from the French after Napoleon conquered them in his march over Europe. The Spanish army discard a huge cannon as they retreat from the French invaders but a ragtag group of Spanish loyalists find  and begin to restore it.

The spectacular action scenes and Franz Planer’s Spanish location cinematography make some amends for the miscasting, lack of dynamism and involvement, Edna Anhalt, Edward Anhalt and Earl Felton’s troubled screenplay and the over-length of 131 minutes.

But Kramer’s just not the right director for this kind of stuff. Cary Grant, Sophia Loren and Frank Sinatra are all in their glorious prime as Anthony, Juana and Miguel, but, like Kramer, not really up for outside adventures either, and manage to look shifty and embarrassed.

Sinatra as Miguel? We don’t think so. Sinatra caused a ruckus when he hung a banner from his hotel room window reading ‘Franco is a Fink’, referring to Spain’s dictator, General Franco. Sinatra later referred to the filming as ‘underwhelming’.

Also in the cast are Theodore Bikel as General Jouvet, John Wengraf, Jay Novello, Philip Van Zandt, José Nietro, Carlos Larrañaga and Paco El Laberinto.

Theodore Bikel died on July 21 2015, aged 91.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 3075

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