johnpelaro The movie follows the book beautifully, with the requisite changes to make it fit ( I do not agree with them all). Jones' performance, especially during the first half of this long movie is sharp and refreshing. If one had any doubts about Jill Saint John's acting ability, this early role would easily dispel them ( again, reading the book first is a must). The cinematography holds one's interest, even when the action slows down. This film is not for one who needs blood and sex every other scene, but how such a classic film as this has been largely forgotten is more of a comment on our 21st century culture than on the qualities of this gem. Be prepared for a thoughtful study and adaptation of Fitzgerald's work, not immediate gratification ( although Jones and saint John do provide sufficient eye candy, as should Jason Robards for the ladies ) .

williwaw Jennifer Jones was a real movie star. Chic, glamorous and was simply great in front of the camera. A very good actress who in hindsight made far too few films. In this Henry King directed film of the classic Fitzgerald novel, Jennifer Jones stars in the lead role of Nicole Diver Jennifer Jones looked 30 years old in this picture beautifully photographed by 20th's top studio camera man Leon Shamroy. I liked Jennifer Jones in this movie more so than any other save for "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" and "Song of Bernadette" both directed by Henry King. The King-Jennifer Jones relationship was meaningful in the success of those films.The outdoor scenes shot in Europe are particularly good; the interiors were done at 20th's studios in Los Angeles. Oscar winners Paul Lukas and Joan Fontaine give fine support to the Star and I found Jason Robards fine as Dick Diver. There was much discussion about former Jennifer Jones co stars and friends Gregory Peck or William Holden playing Dick Diver but eventually the role went to Jason Robards who had played F Scott Fitzgerald in the play The Disenchanted on Broadway.Kudos to a great theme song Tender Is The Night which was nominated for Best Song, it should have won. A beautiful haunting song! This lushly produced movie really gets to you and when you see it over and over it is like a beautiful spell.I wish I could see this movie uncut and at a major revival house in wide screen. The picture when released was not critically well received and 20th Century Fox quickly released the film and forgot about it.20th Century Fox needs to release the DVD of this Film.

Anakim7 Other comments cover every aspect except: The semi-autobiographical nature of Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald's novel, "Tender Is The Night". It is the story of his love for Zelda Sayre. Putting himself in the role of a psychiatrist who makes the fatal mistake of falling in love with a patient. F. Scott Fitzgerald from Minneapolis, MN, transforms his real life experiences into fiction beautifully in the Fitzgeraldian style. Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald spent time at Shepard-Pratt Hospital and at Eudowood Sanitarium. Fitzgerald and Zelda became hypnotized by the lifestyle provided by the money from Scott's work. When the money ran out he went back to work until his luck ran out. I enjoyed seeing "Tender Is The Night" several times and would enjoying seeing this film again.

Greg Couture When this was released I managed to see most films first-run, except the ones clearly aimed at my age group. (Such a snob, n'est-ce pas?!?) So, being a fan of both Jennifer and Joan, I went to a Los Angeles-area theater with top-notch projection and sound. Back then Twentieth-Century Fox rarely stinted on sending companies to the actual locales of the stories being filmed, so this one has plenty of its share of gorgeous shots set in Switzerland and elsewhere on the Continent, as I recall.But, as other comments herein attest, the rest is somewhat of a disappointment. Henry King, the director, seemed to encourage Jennifer Jones in some of her less-attractive mannerisms which somehow were not so apt as a rendition of her character's mental distress. Jason Robards, Jr. was never much of a success as a romantic lead, in my opinion. And Joan Fontaine was assigned the rather thankless role of a rich "bitch." All in all it's a prime example of how the studio "system" was growing out of touch with an ever-younger movie audience. Nevertheless for those of us who have always appreciated luxurious eye candy, it was a fairly tasty treat.