Arch of Triumph (1948 film)

Infobox Film
name = Arch of Triumph


caption = Original Spanish poster for "Arch of Triumph"
director = Lewis Milestone
producer = David Lewis
writer = Erich Maria Remarque (novel)
Lewis Milestone
Harry Brown
Irwin Shaw (uncredited)
starring =Ingrid Bergman
Charles Boyer
Charles Laughton
music = Louis Gruenberg
cinematography = Russell Metty
editing = Duncan Mansfield
distributor = United Artists
released = flagicon|USA February 17, 1948
runtime = 120 minutes
133 min (restored version)
country = USA
language = English
German
budget = USD 5,000,000 | imdb_id = 0040109
amg_id = 1:2758
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"Arch of Triumph" is a 1948 US war romance film made by Enterprise Productions and distributed by United Artists. The film was directed by Lewis Milestone and adapted from the 1945 Erich Maria Remarque novel "Arch of Triumph".

The film stars Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer and Charles Laughton with Louis Calhern.

Background and production

The film's name is a reference to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, where the film is set. The rough cut of the film was four hours long, and in reducing it to two hours several actors were cut. Irwin Shaw spent five months writing the screenplay, but then quit when Lewis Milestone wanted him to add a love story. Milestone then rewrote the script, which was then used for the film. Ingrid Bergman's salary for the part was $175,000 + 25% of net profits.

The MPAA's head of the Production Code Administration at the time, Joseph Breen, made the film's studio tone down the violence in the script. The scene where Ravic kills Haake also included him stuffing Haake in the car's trunk, stripping him naked, burying him and burning his clothes, was cut from the film. Breen also objected to the murder going unpunished, but relented.

The film was remade as a made-for-television film, "Arch of Triumph", in 1985 with Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Ravic.

Plot

Pre-World War II Paris is crowded with illegal refugees, trying to evade deportation. One of them is Dr. Ravic (Charles Boyer), who under a false name practices medicine illegally, helping other refugees. He saves Joan Madou (Ingrid Bergman) from committing suicide after the sudden death of her lover. They become involved, but he is deported and she becomes the mistress of a wealthy man, Alex (Stephen Bekassy). All this time Ravic seeks revenge against the Nazi officer Haake (Charles Laughton), with war eventually declared between France and Germany.

Cast

*Ingrid Bergman - Joan Madou
*Charles Boyer - Dr. Ravic
*Charles Laughton - Ivon Haake
*Louis Calhern - Boris Morosov
*Roman Bohnen - Dr. Veber
*J. Edward Bromberg - Hotel manager at the Verdun
*Ruth Nelson - Madame Fessier
*Stephen Bekassy - Alex
*Curt Bois - Tattooed waiter
*Art Smith - Inspector
*Michael Romanoff - Capt. Alidze

ee also

*Production Code
*Calvados

References

External links

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