The Pride and the Passion (1957) is a historical film drama made by Stanley Kramer productions, filmed in Technicolor and VistaVision, and released by United Artists. It was directed and produced by Stanley Kramer from a screenplay by Edna Anhalt and Edward Anhalt and Earl Felton, based on the novel The Gun by C.S. Forester.

The film starred Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra and Sophia Loren with Theodore Bikel and Jay Novello. Set in the Napoleonic era, it is the story of a British officer who leads a force of Spanish guerrillas hauling a huge cannon across Spain to help in the capture of %C3%81vila from the French, while evading the occupying French forces as well.

Troubled Production

Shot on location in Spain, rumors persist that Frank Sinatra only took a part in the film to be near his wife Ava Gardner, during a time when they were having marital problems and she was to be away from Sinatra whilst shooting part of The Sun Also Rises in various locales around Europe, including Spain. When there was to be no reconciliation, Sinatra hurriedly left the production, asking director Stanley Kramer to condense all of his scenes for as brief as possible shooting schedule for his part. Kramer obliged.

Conversely, Cary Grant was happy to get away from his failing marriage to Betsy Drake when he met his young Italian co-star, Sophia Loren. Although romantically involved with director Carlo Ponti, who had refused to marry her, Loren found herself working with the actor who had been the subject of her schoolgirl fantasies. Despite about a 30-year age difference, they were soon having an affair, but it was Grant who fell madly in love with Loren. He decided that he would marry her after filming ended and as soon as he could divorce Drake.

To further complicate matters, Carlo Ponti chose that moment to tell Loren that he loved her and would finally agree to marry her. After some soul-searching, the actress finally chose Ponti, who she had been with for years, and also because she was aware of Grant's reputation. Cary Grant was lovesick and heartbroken and barely made it through the filming of their next movie together "Houseboat", which ironically depicted their characters' wedding ceremony.

Despite the film's problems, Kramer was nominated by the Directors Guild of America for Outstanding Directorial Achievement.

Box Office and Critical Reception

Opening to mixed reviews on July 10th, 1957, The Pride and The Passion would prove to be successful at the box office, spurred no doubt by the popularity of the leading actors. With box office rentals of $4.7 million from a gross of $8.75 million, this would be one of the 20 highest grossing films of 1957. Variety praised the film's production values, stating "Top credit must go to the production. The panoramic, longrange views of the marching and terribly burdened army, the painful fight to keep the gun mobile through ravine and over waterway - these are major pluses."

External links

• Variety's Review: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117794130.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0

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