MovieChat Forums > A Bell for Adano (1945) Discussion > Tina Tomasino: German refugee

Tina Tomasino: German refugee

posted 10 years ago by bucky-283-385151
3 replies | jump to latest

My best guess is that the Tina Tomasino character was actually German.

Although she spoke English slowly, she had no hint of an Italian accent like all the other Italian characters. All of them. Except her. Her hair was blonde, and although she tried to explain that away, Major Joppolo zings her by referring to her "dark skin" when she's obviously the palest person in town. And then, he just drops the issue.

Some folks have taken this to be horrible miscasting.

I'm not sure I like that explanation. The movie is otherwise quite good, so it's weird that this one single character would fail so catastrophically.

It makes PERFECT sense if she's a German refugee or something--a "good" German ex-pat who was the sweetheart of a "good" non-fascist Italian.

Maybe it was something that the audiences of 1945 wouldn't be receptive to, so it ended up on the cutting room floor.

[–] bobr549 10 years ago

Blonde?.. Sh said she dyed her hair

[–] bucky-283-385151 10 years ago

That's what she SAID. But then why would Joppolo make that strange remark about her skin color?

And near the end, Joppolo says, "Until I see you again." Not a common American farewell. But an exact translation of Auf Wiedersehen.

It explains her character completely. Indeed, it even underscores Joppolo's compassion and understanding--that he let her "secret" remain secret.

[–] OccasionalPoster 9 years ago

Having read the novel of the same name by John Hersey twice and just last night seen the movie, I think I can be of some help.

In the book, there is no reference or explanation that Tina happens to be a German. I never got an inkling as I read the book that she happened to be German.

And near the end, Joppolo says, "Until I see you again." Not a common American farewell. But an exact translation of Auf Wiedersehen.

If I remember correctly, Joppolo says that as a way of showing how upset he is inside that he may never see Tina again now that he has discovered he has been relieved from his duties and how devastated he is to tell her what has happened to him now.

I liked Gene Tierney in this role and found some of her scenes moving like the ones where she is interacting with Joppolo. The only problem I had with Tierney's performance was I found her Italian accent to be rather faulty at times, which sort of took away from enjoying her performance as a whole. At the same time, I understand this film came out in 1945 and method acting didn't kick in for another 10-20 years in Hollywood, perhaps explaining why there was more focus on the emotions of the characters than mastering the accent.

Cast Away...It's like Forrest Gump, but on an island.