Anthony Adverse

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Anthony Adverse

1936,

2h 20m,

Romance

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Watchlist

Watchlist

25%

8 Reviews

Tomatometer

49%

250+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

25%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Based on the novel by Hervey Allen, this expansive drama follows the many adventures of the eponymous hero (Fredric March). Abandoned at a convent by his heartless nobleman father, Don Luis (Claude Rains), Anthony is later mentored by his kind grandfather, John Bonnyfeather (Edmund Gwenn), and falls for the beautiful Angela Giuseppe (Olivia de Havilland). When circumstances separate Anthony and Angela, and he embarks on a long journey, he must find his way back to her, no matter what the cost.

Otis Ferguson

The New Republic

May 7, 2024

No life, no flow of story. It tries to dramatize as many of the book’s episodes as possible; but in the dramatizing there is shown no relish or conviction.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

Fredric March as Adverse is an ace choice, playing the role to the hilt.

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Frank S. Nugent

New York Times

Mar 25, 2006

2/5

We found it a bulky, rambling and indecisive photoplay which has not merely taken liberties with the letter of the original but with its spirit.

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Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy)

Esquire Magazine

Oct 18, 2019

There is an on-your-toes, give-your-best, you're-in-a-classic-now atmosphere about the acting which is fascinating.

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Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

Aug 7, 2019

Good entertainment.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jul 17, 2005

C

Though well-acted by Fredric March, Claude Rains and Sondergaard, LeRoy's lavish adventure is overlong and not particularly involving, despite a globetrotting plot (Cuba, Africa, Paris, and America) that spans decades.

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Finn P

Mar 25, 2019

Adverse buys and sells slaves in Africa for several years -- seemingly without conscience, and all for money. He personally directs the selling of poor innocent black men and women to whoever can pay and condemns them to a life of servitude to their new masters. This is not a film to be admired. Adverse travels all over the world and Napoleon Bonaparte is even thrown in, but nothing can forgive his years of slave trading and the black stain on his mind and heart.

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Jan 26, 2019

The best movie score ever composed!

George S

Aug 31, 2017

Anthony Adverse is a gigantic epic costume drama/adventure film that was made at a time when a rigid production code was in place. If we look at the film within the confines of that production code we can see something beautiful yet watered down from its source material. The novel created quite the splash upon its release in 1933 and sold copious amounts of copies to become the bestelling novel of all time; replaced three years later by Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind. Fredric March is our leading man here and he triumphantly portrays the troubled Adverse through his adult years. Olivia DeHavilland is stunning as his forgotten wife and there is scene chewing support galore from the likes of Edmund Gwenn, Claude Rains, and Gale Sondergaard (who won the first ever Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance). The film takes through a large amount of time and we travel to several different countries within that timeframe including Cuba and somewhere in Africa. What the film lacks in cohesion it makes up for in gorgeous black and white cinematography and flawless costume sets. It may not be remembered as one of Hollywood's great epic films but it should still be given a chance to take its place as one of its most extravagant.

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Theodore W

Apr 20, 2017

Man, storytelling has come a long way. Overlong.

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Mervyn LeRoy

Director

Fredric March

Anthony Adverse

Olivia de Havilland

Angela Giuseppe

Gale Sondergaard

Faith Paleologus

Edmund Gwenn

John Bonnyfeather

Claude Rains

Marquis Don Luis

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Synopsis

Based on the novel by Hervey Allen, this expansive drama follows the many adventures of the eponymous hero (Fredric March). Abandoned at a convent by his heartless nobleman father, Don Luis (Claude Rains), Anthony is later mentored by his kind grandfather, John Bonnyfeather (Edmund Gwenn), and falls for the beautiful Angela Giuseppe (Olivia de Havilland). When circumstances separate Anthony and Angela, and he embarks on a long journey, he must find his way back to her, no matter what the cost.

Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Producer: Henry Blanke
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 29, 1936, Original
Runtime: 2h 20m

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