Decent adaptation of Hemingway's novel. Mostly faithful but not as good.

The first half was pretty good, but the second half was...a bullfight. Good cast, but not a lot of point to the proceedings (unless you like watching Eddie Albert get drunk). Then too the Intoning Voice which bookends things is awfully pretentious. Not nearly as annoying as the book...but still, not much good.

Adaptation of Hemingway's novel gets better and better as it goes along, and is unique in 50s Hollywood films for being faithful in pursuing a meandering (and somewhat aimless) narrative. That it is never boring or dreary is due to tight controlled directing from King, and brilliant performances from a first-rate cast (with Flynn stealing every scene he is in). A clear forerunner of the Altman style of film-making, and an underrated gem in its own right.