Rent A Farewell to Arms (1932)
3.4 of 5 from 64 ratings
1h 18min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Based on a novel by Ernest Hemingway about his own real life experience, this beautifully acted movie is a story of romance borne out of a backdrop of horror and death. Gary Cooper is American ambulance driver Lt. Frederick Henry who is stationed on the Italian front where he meets British nurse Catherine Barkley (Helen Hayes) with whom he falls hopelessly in love. They meet at every opportunity but danger is never far away! Tragedy strikes one day as Henry is brought back on a stretcher...the kiss with which Catherine greets the injured Henry is a truly magical moment.
- Actors:
- Gary Cooper, Helen Hayes, Adolphe Menjou, Mary Philips, Jack La Rue, Blanche Friderici, Mary Forbes, Gilbert Emery
- Directors:
- Frank Borzage
- Producers:
- Frank Borzage
- Writers:
- Benjamin Glazer, Oliver H.P. Garrett, Ernest Hemingway, Laurence Stallings
- Others:
- Roland Anderson, Hans Dreier, Franklin B. Hansen, Charles Bryant Lang Jr.
- Studio:
- GMVS Limited
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama, Romance
- Collections:
- All the Twos: 1902-62, Cinema and the First World War, Drama Films & TV, Holidays Film Collection, Instant Expert's Guide to John Huston, Richard Attenborough: A Centenary Special Instant Expert's Guide, Romantic Film Pairings for Valentine's Day, The Cinema Paradiso Kissing Montage, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, Top 10 Screen Kisses (1896-1979)
- Awards:
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Reviews (1) of A Farewell to Arms
Precode Romance (spoiler) - A Farewell to Arms review by Steve
Apparently Ernest Hemingway did not approve of this, the first screen adaptation of any of his novels. And that's understandable as this precode Paramount release is channeled more in the spirit of its director than classic literature. It's a Frank Borzage hyper-romance, a place of almost metaphysical melodrama- rather than a realistic vision of the Great War.
And on those terms, this is a triumph. Borzage has come into vogue, and his admirers will love this. There are great stars of the period with Gary Cooper as a volunteer US ambulance driver on the Italian front who falls profoundly in love with a beautiful, suffering English nurse- played by Helen Hayes. And their tragic devotion overcomes all obstacles, except death.
Even the remarkable difference in height! The stars inhabit the separated, anguished lovers with great sincerity. Cooper is still a raw actor at this time but well cast and handsome and Hayes is heartbreaking. Borzage's direction is innovative; there are no rules. What most enhances the soul of his ethereal, narcotic cosmos is the extraordinarily gorgeous photography.
Charles Lang won an Oscar for cinematography. It's an early talkie, but no matter; it got another for sound. This may be a little slow for many. But the main problem is it is in the public domain and most prints are poor duplicates. And usually of the 1938 Warner Brothers re-release which was heavily censored. Though the entire 88 minute Paramount version is actually out there on bluray.
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