This adaptation of the Ernest Hemingway novel stars Gary Cooper as Robert Jordan, a demolition expert who journeys to Spain to fight against the fascists during the Spanish Civil War. He becomes involved with a small band of freedom fighters, including the headstrong Pilar (Katina Paxinou), the erratic Pablo (Akim Tamiroff) and the beautiful and innocent Maria (Ingrid Bergman). Against the backdrop of the bloody battle for liberty, Robert and Maria find themselves falling in love. Katina Paxinou won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance.

Synopsis

Based on the best selling, controversial novel by Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winning author Ernest Hemingway, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" graces the screen with legendary stars Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman. The story follows Robert Jordan (Cooper), an American demolition expert who lends his unique abilities to the anti fascist freedom fighters of Spain. Assisting him is a band of warriors that includes the strong willed Pilar (Katina Paxinou in an Oscar winning performance), the dangerously undependable Pablo (Akim Tamiroff) and the lovely, innocent Maria (Bergman). As danger mounts, Robert and Maria develop a closeness, an interdependence, that blossoms into one of the screen's greatest love stories. Their passion grows as they approach the hour of judgement a climactic confrontation neither may survive. Newly restored, this exclusive version includes footage that was cut after the original theatrical premiere in 1943.