Being one of Hemingway's most enduring works (it earned him a Nobel Prize in 1954), it was only a matter of time before it was put to film. Although John Sturges was given credit as director, two uncredited director's also worked on the film (Henry King & Fred Zinnemann); Which may be the reason this film falls far short of the novella. In any case, Spencer Tracy does bring the character to life, gives this film credibility and also brought him an Academy Award nomination. If your a Hemingway, Sturges or Spencer fan you definitely need this film in your collection.