A Farewell to Arms

1957

2h 32m

IMDb RATING

5.8/10

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23 Images

Drama

Romance

War

An English nurse and an American soldier on the Italian front during World War I fall in love, but the horrors surrounding them test their romance to the limit.

Directors

Charles Vidor

Writers

Ben Hecht(screenplay by)

Ernest Hemingway(novel by)

Laurence Stallings(theatre play by)

Stars

Rock Hudson

Jennifer Jones

Vittorio De Sica

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Watch A Farewell to Arms (1957) ORIGINAL TRAILER

Top cast

Lt. Frederick Henry

Catherine Barkley

Major Rinaldi

Court Martial Colonel

Captain Bassi

Dr. Emerich

Mrs. Van Campen

Helen Ferguson

Bonello

Colonel Valentini

Père Galli

Passini

Ayrno

Carabinieri

Lieutenant Zimmermann

Johanna Hofer

Mrs. Zimmermann

Eva Kotthaus

Nurse

Directors

Charles Vidor

Writers

Ben Hecht(screenplay by)

Ernest Hemingway(novel by)

Laurence Stallings(theatre play by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

It was always going to be hard enough to adapt this novel for the screen, and given Gary Cooper did an OK job with it in 1932, I am not quite sure why David O. Selznick concluded that is might be a ripe vehicle for Rock Hudson to reprise. He is the American "Lt. Henry" serving in Italy during the Great War when he meets British nurse "Catherine" (Jennifer Jones). They take an immediate shine to each other but needless to say the War has no time to stop and indulge their affection and the film follows the ups and downs as they try to stay alive and, ultimately, make it to safety with their as yet unborn child. The thing with Hemingway stories, I found, is that they rarely work on a big screen. They are detailed, descriptive and requiring of the reader to use their imagination to create the scenario that's all too easily replaced by the visuals here. That also requires the actors to deliver strong and intricate characterisations that deal with their own issues, sure, but with the issues of loyalty, of professionalism and of tough choices made amidst the atrocities of conflict. Neither of these two here have the gravitas to do those complexities justice and that frequently turns this gripping wartime romance into a not so gripping romance set amidst a war. There is quite an engaging effort from Vittorio De Rica as the inspirational surgeon "Rinaldi" and Elaine Stritch is also to be seen here before she became a lady who lunched. The film looks good, the wartime imagery potent and at times we get a little indication of the true horrors of this war, and of the strains it put on people both in and out of the military, but there's no getting away from the weak and rather insipid casting. Pity!

Geronimo196725 Nov, 2023