We Were Strangers

Cuba has descended into a corrupt dictatorship under former general Gerardo Machado y Morales. An underground opposition conspiracy is looking to overthrow the government through assassination advocated by American Tony Fenner (John Garfield). China Valdés (Jennifer Jones) is a simple bank clerk who turns to revolution when her brother is killed for distributing leaflets. She is recruited by Tony in a scheme to blow up most of the government.

John Huston's directing is visually compelling. The subject matter is compelling. What this movie needs is a more suitable rooting interest. Tony is shown to be callous early on. The only possible one is China. This should be her movie. She could be pulled into the revolution but still holding onto her ideals about saving the innocent. It needs to be much later before she finally realizes that neither side cares. Dismissing civilian casualties so early in the movie is really off-putting and leaves no one to root for. It's an interesting movie but it lacks a central character which can take the place of the audience.

This has to be the most radical, left wing film ever made in Hollywood. It is amazing that Huston and some of the other principals were not blacklisted afterwords; the McCarthy era was well underway in 1949 when the film was released. (Garfield was blacklisted, but not as a result of this particular film.)

This is a taut, suspenseful, exciting movie. But what stands out for me is that the central theme and focus of the story is the "need" to dedicate one's life to the overthrow of a dictatorship by whatever means necessary. I've never seen an American film so uncompromisingly pro-revolutionary. The heros of the film are guerrilla warriors planning a bombing that will kill dozens or hundreds of innocents along with lots of deserving government officials.

One significant drawback to this film is it's very extensive use of process photography, shooting the principal actors against background film shot on location. Whole scenes are shot this way and it's distracting.

"We were strangers" is considered a minor film among all Huston's masterpieces of the era:"treasure of the Sierra Madre" "Key Largo" "Asphalt jungle'' or "African Queen" .But many of this director's works are sleepers :"a walk with love and death" "Heaven knows mister Allison" or " Reflections in a golden eye" -which was an accurate rendition of McCullers' novel- are good examples ,sometimes more praised abroad than in America.

"We were strangers " is in the center of Huston's work:one of his permanent features was failure ("treasure" "asphalt" "misfits" ).the heroes of "strangers" are in a way ,misfits:they do not mix with the people and they do not feel that history is moving faster than they do.Forget the political background which may seem,to some,naive and vague :sometimes we wonder whether the heroes themselves are believing in what they are doing:hear this little ditty one of them sings as a leitmotiv ("we are digging all day,we are digging all night" "We were strangers" shows Huston's fascination for death: it would reappear in the overlooked "walk with love and death" ,in the dance macabre at the beginning of " under the volcano" and it is even more glaring in the director's final opus "the dead' where one of the characters ,still alive,appears on her deathbed.

Fighting against the tyrants is one good thing:doing so by digging a tunnel to get to a graveyard to kill one of the men of the dictatorship,Huston challenges realism!"there are two parts in the cemetery,says Jones ,one for the poor,one for the rich" even in death...

Jones ,some kind of romantic passionnaria (the part was tailor made for her- and Garfield an idealist American are part of the odd couples who are numerous in Huston's work:"African queen" "Heaven knows..." or "Roots of heaven" or "the Barbarian and the geisha" or "Annie" or...you name it...

a Huston which should not sink into oblivion....

Stars China Valdés (Jennifer Jones), a young woman who works in an American bank in Havana, is generally non-political. However, she decides to join the revolutionary forces to avenge the murder of her activist brother. Another of the revolutionaries, an American entertainment promoter named Tony Fenner (John Garfield), convinces her to hold off on her assassination, as he believes he has come up with a plan that can wipe out all the major government leaders in one fell swoop. Along with China and Tony, the Chief of the revolutionaries joins a team of four non-related men - Guillermo (Gilbert Roland) , Miguel (Wally Cassell) , Ramón Sánchez (David Bond) and Toto (José Pérez). However, the Cuban Secret Police chief (Pedro Armendariz) and the dictator's military complicate the plan's execution. The group schemes a plan to kill the President but the Cuban Secret Police chief is behind them. With a band of dedicated revolutionaries, they begin digging an underground tunnel. China Valdes...a woman of violent hates and fierce loves. Tony Fenner...a tough guy with a conscience..

A thriller with dramatic elements, including intrigue, tension and romance. This is one of John Huston's main films , though very obscure, a model of his kind , definitely a must see if you are fan to this great filmmaker. A decent flick in which the intrigue is entertaining on its own , this is one of John Huston's best films , a model of his kind , definitely a must see if you are aficionado to intense dramas. Resulting to be an offbeat story with revolutionary content, about a matter subject not very common in Hollywood, the overthrow of an entire South American government by violent means, nothing less than a strong explosion that eliminates the country's main ministers. Huston broke a new ground with this movie , providing exciting scenes and unforgettable dialogs. The fim depicts a large number of physical challenges facing the team, especially , the digging of a tunnel from China's cellar, across the street to the cemetery so that the bomb can be transported undetected. Describing throughout the emotional challenges which provide the biggest hurdles in carrying out the plan successfully, and usually harassed and pursued by a nasty Cuban Secret Police chief.

It contains atmospheric cinematography in black and white by cameraman Russell Metty, shot on location in La Havana, Cuba and in Columbia studios . Notable production design and art direction with evocative sets . As well as rousing and lively soundtrack by composer George Antheil. This film flopped at the box office and was withdrawn from theaters shortly after it was released. It suffered from the many reviews pointing out its pro-Marxist and communist politics. The movie was well directed by the great John Huston at his best , its tense filmmaking makes this crackerjack entertainment. The flick was made in a good time when Huston made some masterpieces . Later on , he directed other good pictures, such as ¨The Red Badge of Courage¨(1951), ¨The unforgiven¨ and ¨Night of Iguana¨ (1964) , they were for the most part , well-regarded but certainly not close to the level of his earlier revered work . He also experimented behind-the-camera with colour effects and approached topics that most others would not even broach , including thoughtful and provoking themes and psychoanalysis . He subsequently directed other successes. Huston had good time of the 60s , 70s and 80s when Huston resurged as a director of quality films with Fat City, (1972), The man who would be king (1975) and Wise blood (1979). He ended his career on a high note with ¨Under volcano¨ (1984), ¨Honor of Prizzi¨ (1985) and ¨Dublineses¨ (1987) . Essential and indispensable watching for Jennifer Jones and John Garfield fans. A real must see for John Huston enthusiasts. Rating We Were Strangers(1949) : 6.5/10, above average , worthwhile seeing. A major movie achievement by any standard.

Can anyone tell me where I can find a copy of this? I haven't seen it in thirty years, and if it is half as good as I remember, this is a must-see! What's up with Columbia holding back their classics? The Reckless Moment, made the same year (1949) by Columbia is also unavailable. These are major films directed by, respectively, John Huston and Max Ophuls, starring the likes of Jennifer Jones, John Garfield, Gilbert Roland, Joan Bennett, and James Mason. The Reckless Moment was recently remade decently as The Deep End, but it still doesn't compare. If anyone knows where I can get We Were Strangers, please post it here. Thanks, movie lovers!