Movie Summary"Arch of Triumph" is a dramatic movie released in 1948, directed by Lewis Milestone, based upon the eponymous novel by Erich Maria Remarque. The film features widely known stars such as Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, Charles Laughton, and Louis Calhern.
Set and PlotThis romance and war drama happens in Paris in 1939, on the verge of World War II. Dr. Ravic (Charles Boyer), a refugee and a stateless surgeon, escaped from a German prisoner-of-war camp and prevented the Germans while residing in a neutral France. While practicing medication illegally, he falls for Joan Madou (Ingrid Bergman), a troubled woman entangled with a married man.
Dr. Ravic finds himself in a love triangle while likewise dealing with the lurking threat of being found by the Nazis. He is haunted by the memories of his past, consisting of the cruel murder of his cherished by a Nazi officer named Haake (Charles Laughton), whom he all of a sudden comes across in Paris. This reawakening sets Ravic on a clash of revenge.
Key MomentsMajor psychological shifts take place in the film when Dr. Ravic starts a romantic relationship with Joan Madou in spite of the severe risks related to being a stateless refugee. A similarly moving minute is the unforeseen conflict with Haake, a grim reminder of the horrors Ravic endured, which revives his thirst for vengeance. As Joan's mental state weakens due to her rough relationship, she tosses herself off a veranda, leaving Ravic grief-stricken.
Climax and ConclusionAs the movie end nears, Ravic presumes the function of the justice-seeker. After identifying Haake on the streets of Paris, he follows him to his hotel and murders him, avenging his departed fan's death. Following this, Ravic is detained, but due to his connections with Boris Morosov (Louis Calhern), a high-ranked officer, he has the ability to avoid deportation.
Nevertheless, learning about Joan's death, he loses all hope and is resigned to his fate. He purposefully breaches curfew, resulting in his capture by the authorities and eventual deportation. The movie ends ambiguously with Ravic being repelled, leaving his fate and future unpredictable.
General Reception"Arch of Triumph" provides a well-crafted story, capturing the anguish, tension, and hope of an age on the verge of war. The efficiencies of Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, and Charles Laughton are commendable, with each bringing depth and feeling to their characters. Nevertheless, the movie's reception was listed below expectations, mainly due to the slow pacing, mournful tone, and the lengthy runtime that hindered the storytelling.
In conclusion, "Arch of Triumph" is a compelling exploration of love, loss, revenge, and the human condition set versus the background of pre-World War II Paris. Regardless of its underwhelming reception at its release, it remains a substantial historical film for its earnest representation of an extreme personal drama linked with the gloomy apprehension of a world at the edge of a destructive war.
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