A Farewell to Arms (1932)

Director:

Frank Borzage

Writers:

Ernest Hemingway (novel)
Benjamin Glazer (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

8 December 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | War | Drama

Tagline:

Every woman who has loved will understand.

Plot:

A tale of the love between ambulance driver Lt. Henry and Nurse Catherine Barkley during World War I...

Plot Keywords:

Ambulance Driver | Nurse | Italy | Hospital | Marital Separation

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 22

7:00 AM

TCM

Cast

Helen Hayes	...	Catherine Barkley
Gary Cooper	...	Lieutenant Frederic Henry
Adolphe Menjou	...	Major Rinaldi
Mary Philips	...	Helen Ferguson
Jack La Rue	...	Priest
Blanche Friderici	...	Head Nurse
Mary Forbes	...	Miss Van Campen
Gilbert Emery	...	British Major

Runtime:

80 min | Spain:83 min | USA:89 min (original version) | UK:79 min (DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Finland:K-12 (1996) | Finland:S (1989) | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #4306-R, 9 May 1938 for re-release)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Ranch - 2813 Cornell Road, Agoura, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Censorship problems arose from early versions of the script, which included phases of Catherine's actual childbirth and references to labor pains, gas, her groaning and hemorrhaging. After these were removed, the MPPDA approved the script, and even issued a certificate for re-release in 1938 when the censorship rules were more strictly enforced. Still, the film was rejected in British Columbia and in Australia, where Hemingway's book was also banned.

Quotes:

Catherine Barkley: [Catherine comes to tend a wounded Henry] Hello, darling!
Lieutenant Frederic Henry: Catherine!
[she kisses him]
Lieutenant Frederic Henry: You're lovely.
Catherine Barkley: Are you badly hurt?
Lieutenant Frederic Henry: You're lovely.
Catherine Barkley: [concerned] Oh my poor darling, it's your leg, isn't it?
Lieutenant Frederic Henry: You're the loveliest thing I ever saw.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992)

Soundtrack:

Santa Lucia

The Great War and the devotion of two people

There's World War I going and Lieutenant Frederick Henry is fighting for his life.The war becomes secondary when he meets and falls in love with nurse Catherine Barkley.Having big emotions for another person during the war is dangerous since there's the chance of losing that person.They're both afraid.He may not admit that, but they're both afraid.Frank Borzage's A Farewell to Arms (1932) is based on Ernest Hemingway's novel.It won two Academy Awards from best cinematography (Charles Lang) and best sound, recording (Franklin Hansen).It would have deserved awards for acting, as well.The charismatic Gary Cooper and the admirable Helen Hayes do a fantastic job as the leading couple.Then there's also the great Adolphe Menjou as Major Rinaldi.The dialogue is brilliant.Lots of lovely words are spoken about love.I know there are many people who would say a movie from 75 years back is too old for them.I'd say that's their lost.A Farewell to Arms offers great feelings from the first meeting till the tragic ending.