For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943)

The story starts off with an exciting ambush, chase, and sacrifice. I mentally rubbed my hands together and my eyes shone with "oh-boy" anticipation. Unfortunately, this overlong film turned into a boring talk-fest. The last several minutes did burst back into life -- but two incredible bookends can't distract from the worthless volumes between them.

The lovely, hopeful Ingrid Bergman pretty much pulls this movie up a grade level all by herself. There's life in her performance.

C-