The Pride and the Passion (1957)

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Where was Eli Wallach? Where was J. Carrol Naish? Where was anyone else the day Frank Sinatra was cast as a Spaniard in The Pride and the Passion? You know me, I love Frank Sinatra's acting career even more than his singing career, so if I tell you his performance was terrible, it really was. You don't have to waste two and a half hours of your time to find out if I'm right.Stanley Kramer, three years before his epic Spartacus, took on The Pride and the Passion, an epic Napoleonic war movie. Yes, there are thousands of extras, on-location filming, extensive battle scenes, and Cary Grant in a uniform. But the movie stinks. Sophia Loren, at only twenty-three-years-old, spent virtually the entire movie showing off her bosom to the audience, and despite their real-life affair, there were no sparks flying between her and Cary Grant. And given the choice between Cary Grant in a uniform and Frank Sinatra in schlumpy clothes and a laughable accent, is there really any suspense? So much for a love triangle. I can't recommend this movie, unless you really love tedious war epics.

The Pride and the Passion has some of the worst acting I've seen in a major movie. The only one substantially worse was El Cid. The two movies have something in common. Both movies include Sophia Loren, who has done some excellent acting in Italian films. Both movies have wonderful scores. This movie has excellent music by American wild man of music, George Antheil. El Cid has one of the great scores of Miklos Rozsa. Both movies are wonderful on the ears and eyes, but terrible acting. JB

Direct from the What Were They Thinking files comes this bloated pageant of staggeringly foolish proportions. All about getting a cannon through battles and assorted other nonsensical issues this overripe piece of twaddle has a few things in its favor, nice scenery and beautiful color photography. They are outweighed however by the inert direction of the usually competent Kramer and even more by the complete miscasting of the principle actors. Sophia is gorgeous and was just starting in American films so her being shoved into whatever was available at the moment no matter how unsuitable can at least explain her presence here. Cary Grant who would seem a natural in period films actually looks rather absurd and is stiff as a board, he apparently felt the same way and after this often referred to this film with mocking scorn. He and Sophia, who became involved during the making of this stinker, would be much more properly and happily paired the next year in Houseboat a delightful comedy which is the place to see them together, not here. Worst of all is Frank Sinatra preposterously cast as a Spanish freedom fighter with both an atrocious accent and wig. He is simply dreadful. Worth watching only to see how an A level film with major stars and a respected director can go wrong in pretty much every aspect.

The movie is set in the Napoleonic era.The British officer Anthony (Cary Grant) leads a group of Spanish guerrillas across Spain to help in the capture of Ávila and with them they're hauling a big cannon.Anthony starts having feelings for the leader Miguel's (Frank Sinatra) girl Juana (Sophia Loren).Stanley Kramer directed The Pride and the Passion in 1957.It's not the best example of historical movies but works OK.Cary Grant's charisma alone could carry the movie.Then there's Frank Sinatra opposite him.There may be a little problem with Sinatra playing a Spaniard and he did a better job in many other movies but was there really anything Frank couldn't pull off.Sophia Loren looks very appealing as Juana so no wonder men fall for her.There's some chemistry there at the kissing scenes between Grant and her.Theodore Bikel plays General Jouvet.This movie looks quite handsome with the scenery and all.This is a movie that's good to see if you don't have anything better to do.