THE PRIDE AND THE PASSION is a stupendously mounted action/romance film. Just two problems: Stanley Kramer doesn't know how to direct action, and Cary Grant seems too bored to provide much romance. Surprising, considering the smoldering romance the fiftyish Grant and the 23 year old Sophia Loren carried on off camera. This is one expensive looking movie. Kramer managed to put the $5M negative cost right up there on the screen. Audiences flocked to it, too. TP&TP showed a profit in 1957.
Don't believe those criticisms elsewhere that "the cannon is hanging overhead and nobody sees it" or "Grant never gets dirty." Watch the movie. This movie is boring, not inept. Marvel at how mature Loren looks for 23. Chortle at Frank Sinatra's terrible accent. But make no mistake about it; Grant is largely at fault for the lack of drama and romance in this movie. Kramer went on to make far worse movies (IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD, for one). TP&TP is far more watchable today than AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, and THAT won best picture. This movie deserves more respect than it usually gets. Check it out.
Don't believe those criticisms elsewhere that "the cannon is hanging overhead and nobody sees it" or "Grant never gets dirty." Watch the movie. This movie is boring, not inept. Marvel at how mature Loren looks for 23. Chortle at Frank Sinatra's terrible accent. But make no mistake about it; Grant is largely at fault for the lack of drama and romance in this movie. Kramer went on to make far worse movies (IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD, for one). TP&TP is far more watchable today than AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, and THAT won best picture. This movie deserves more respect than it usually gets. Check it out.