Comwayon
A Disappointing Continuation
Huievest
Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.
Allison Davies
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
nedeljkodjukic88
Good movie, but the point - there are noble American individuals who spend a lot of their money, time and energy just to liberate people around the world and bring them freedom and justice they dream of - is simply stupid. Unfortunately, many prominent intellectuals like Huston believe(d) in this. But what has ever changed for that people and country, after they managed to 'liberate' them? You think people in Afghanistan, Balkan live better now? That Iraqis and Libyans are happier without Husein and Gaddafi now? Whom Americans enabled to rule before that... There were/are Americans who support battles against foreign regimes (not only with words), but they do it all for their own interest in that country, not cause they're humanitarians. They all end up powerful and very reach after they use naive 'revolutionaries' who give their lives to the 'great cause'. The Godfather II puts it much better.
wes-connors
Cuban-accented Jennifer Jones (as China Valdes) watches as her 19-year-old brother is shot protesting the island's tyrannical government. Vengeful, she joins the revolutionary underground. Accepted in the resistance, Ms. Jones finds romance with Havana-born John Garfield (as Tony Fenner), who returns from the US to becomes a partner. On her first assignment, Jones re-encounters Pedro Armendariz (as Armando Ariete), who shot her brother. They meet organizer Ramon Novarro (the Chief), who plots government overthrow, with a plan developed by Mr. Garfield. Also in the group is Gilbert Roland (as Guillermo), a "silent" movie star along with Mr. Novarro. "We Were Strangers" is tense and involving at times, but it doesn't always seem authentic.****** We Were Strangers (4/27/39) John Huston ~ Jennifer Jones, John Garfield, Pedro Armendariz, Ramon Novarro
MartinHafer
Although this film isn't exactly true in the way it portrays history (the ending wasn't quite accurate), then this is a pretty exciting film about a group of revolutionaries in 1930s Cuba--well before the days of Castro and Batista.The film begins with the government suspending basic freedoms. In response, a group of students spread fliers demanding an end to the dictatorship. Shortly after this, a couple of these students (including the brother of the character played by Jennifer Jones) are killed by the police. This event propels Jones to the side of the revolutionaries. The leader of this group is played by John Garfield--who is supposed to have emigrated to the US years before (though, oddly, he hasn't a trace of a Cuban accent). The group comes up with a bold plan--to tunnel under the cemetery and blow up most of the government officials during a state ceremony. All they need to do is dig a tunnel from Jones' basement and arrange to have an important member of the Senate killed in order to provide this funeral. There's more to it than this as well as a romance. However, I don't want to say more and spoil the suspense.The film is very good all around despite the odd casting of Garfield (without accent) and Jennifer Jones (though she did a pretty good job). What I liked about the film was the tense and intelligently written script. While not perfect (especially because I didn't find the romance all that believable), the film is interesting and unique--how many other Hollywood films deal with this period in Cuban history?
blanche-2
Though directed by John Huston, written by Huston and Peter Viertel, and starring Jennifer Jones, John Garfield, Pedro Armandariz and Gilbert Roland, 1949's "We Were Strangers" is a largely unknown film. It is, however, an important one in the history of Hollywood as it was bankrolled by Sam Spiegel for Huston's new production company. Impressed with Huston, Spiegel went on to bankroll "The African Queen." Commercially unsuccessful at the time of its release, the story concerns the White Terror of the Fascist government in Cuba from 1925-1933. When her brother, a member of the resistance, is killed, China (Jones) joins the fight to overthrow the government. A plan is concocted by Tony Fenner, an American born in Cuba who is posing as a talent agent. The idea is to assassinate a high-ranking official and then set off a bomb at the funeral, killing the top people in the government.The best scene in the film is between Jones and Pedro Armendariz, who plays a secret policeman, Ariete. He is deeply suspicious of Fenner and is sure that China is his lover. While the revolutionaries hide outside in the rain, he eats and bullies, threatens, and flirts with China, who is terrified but tries to keep calm. A taut, excellent scene. All of the acting is excellent - Jones, wearing darker makeup and sporting an accent, is very good as well as beautiful. Garfield does a good job as Fenner, and Gilbert Roland is a standout. The last 15 minutes of the film are very exciting, with the last scene being poetic but failing to be upbeat, which was perhaps the intention. It's a downer.A very good movie that for some reason didn't get everyone in it in trouble and accused of being a Communist - surprisingly, Garfield's appearance in the movie had nothing to do with his eventual blacklisting. I guess "We Were Strangers" was too obscure.
