Arch Of Triumph (1984)

Set in 1939 Paris as war clouds hover over Europe. A brilliant German surgeon (Anthony Hopkins) has fled to Paris to escape the ever growing power of the Nazis. He meets a down on her luck cabaret singer (Lesley Anne Down) and embarks on a passionate love affair but an act of vengeance will sabotage their romance. Based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque (ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT) and directed by Waris Hussein (POSSESSION OF JOEL DELANEY). Remarque's novel had previously been filmed in 1948 with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman. The 1948 film seemed excessively long at two hours plus. This version at 93 minutes has the benefit of a streamlined narrative and a solid performance by Hopkins. Still, I haven't found the material particularly appealing in either version, there's something lacking in the lead character. It was lacking with Boyer too so I assume it's a result of the source material which I've not read. I'm partial to doomed romances but while I appeciate the effort, I was underwhelmed. The score is by Georges Delerue. With Donald Pleasence, Frank Finlay, Alexander Davion and Joyce Blair.