henryhertzhobbit
I don't have advantage of viewing the original "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" in its entirety with Valentino but this one was a disaster because of the miscasting, most notably Glenn Ford playing the part of Julio Desnoyers.The movie follows the twists and turns of an Argentinian family with the patriarch Julio Madariaga being played by Lee J Cobb as they wend their way through World War II. It should have stopped right at Cobb's performance at the start or went directly from there to the end for me. Cobb gave a magnificent performance. I was mesmerized by it. But that was his swan song and he was gone from then on.Andre Previn's music was superb. It is the only thing that held it together for me. But the miscasting probably done almost exclusively by the producers killed the movie. They picked people that they thought would pull in the public. With the exception of just a few of the cast it just didn't work. We didn't get the tension of those that were for Germany and those that were against it in the family developed in the movie in a meaningful way.The ending was predictable. Other than Cobb's performance at the start, Andre Previn's music and the ending it reminds me of sitting down to a sumptuous dinner created by a chef only to discover that the food wasn't nearly as good as it looked. Viewer, you have been warned!
Jugu Abraham
If Vincente Minnelli is to be praised in this film, it his decision to film Ibanez' novel and to cast the fascinating Ingrid Thulin--who has contributed substantially to Bergman's early work and to Swedish theatre. No Hollywood actress could have lent credibility to this role as Ms Thulin did. It is a matter of historical tragedy that Thulin's own voice was not used and Angela Lansbury's voice was used instead.Lee J Cobb as the patriarch and Glenn Ford as Julio were avoidable decisions. However, the casting of Paul Henreid and Charles Boyer enhanced the film.What made the film rise over mediocrity? The story and Thulin. Ibanez' work is world renowned and film is a beautiful medium to capture the image of the four horsemen. Interestingly Minnelli is not able to capture the "pale" and the "red" horse on screen--the most difficult of the four horses in technicolor and decides to use smoke and clouds to distract us. According to "The Book of Revelations," the horsemen carried a bow, a sword, a balance and a great Sword. Ingmar Bergman in "the Seventh Seal" and Minnelli transforms the great sword into a scythe. But for this detail, the art direction throughout the movie was commendable. Erich von Stroheim Jr. was a mere Assistant Director in this work. von Stroheim's body of work in Europe is revered today and one can only speculate about the result had he directed the film instead of Minnelli. Minnelli's film has its moments--Etienne meeting his wife on his return from capture, and Etienne's confrontation with Julio. Yet the film is Hollywood's attempt at presenting a narrative without complexity for audiences who prefer to be spoonfed. Ibanez' novel is still waiting for a good director to film--Minnelli stumbled in his effort to create a masterpiece. One mistake he made was choosing Glenn Ford to play an Argentinan playboy. What a costly mistake!
Wanda Skutnik
Although this lavish production of a Hemmingwayesque story tried very hard, the casting of the over 45 year old Glenn Ford was a big mistake. His part of an international playboy should have gone to someone in their early 30's, with a more cavalier, rakish personality. I adore Glenn Ford, but for crying out loud, he's the essence of the stalwart American man. I can only think Jimmy Stewart would have been a worse choice. Two and a half hours didn't help this movie either. With better editing, and a slight change of casting this could have been a very good movie.
Soledad-2
I cannot understand the low rating of this film. I'll rather think most of the viewers haven't had the opportunity to watch this movie and the few who had, have not been able to appreciate the admirable qualities of this film. If you have not seen Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, don't wait any longer. I have it in my video library and have watched it several times.
AD
