Made to educate audiences on the civil war "The Spanish Earth" makes no attempt to conceal its sympathies, but is nevertheless still immensely valuable as both a historical document and a work of cinema. What is most memorable about the film is the extraordinary footage. Ivens and his crew had direct access to the front line. The resulting images of front line action are riveting and often very disturbing, and cameraman John Ferno deserves much of the praise. The immense devastation to the land and people is what comes across most strongly.
The commentary, written and delivered by Ernest Hemingway is informative, and not as propagandistic as one might expect, it is also — with all due apologies to Hemingway — a bit simplistic, and ultimately not as moving as the footage. What is striking about the film is that it is simultaneously disturbing and beautiful. The obvious beauty of the Spanish countryside and the skill with which the film was put together stand in sharp contrast with the violence of the images. One especially impressive sequence is the parallel action of water on its way to the fields is intercut with images of troops on the move.