In Love and War (1996)

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writers (WGA):

Henry S. Villard (book) and
James Nagel (book) ...

Release Date:

24 January 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

In war they found each other...In each other they found love...

Plot:

Reporter Ernest Hemingway is an ambulance driver in Italy during World War I. While bravely risking his life in the line of duty...

Plot Keywords:

Ernest Hemingway | Driver | Ambulance Driver | Nurse | Based On Diary

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Mackenzie Astin	...	Henry Villard
Chris O'Donnell	...	Ernest 'Ernie' Hemingway
Margot Steinberg	...	Mabel 'Rosie' Rose
Sandra Bullock	...	Agnes von Kurowsky
Alan Bennett	...	Porter
Ingrid Lacey	...	Elsie 'Mac' MacDonald
Terence Sach	...	Porter
Carlo Croccolo	...	Town Mayor
Tara Hugo	...	Katherine 'Gumshoe' De Long
Gigi Vivan	...	Italian Child
Giuseppe Bonato	...	Grandfather
Allegra Di Carpegna	...	Loretta Cavanaugh
Diane Witter	...	Adele Brown
Mindy Lee Raskin	...	Charlotte Anne Miller
Tracy Hostmyer	...	Ruth Harper

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Brazil:14 | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:12 (w) | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bassano del Grappa, Vicenza, Veneto, Italy

Company:

Dimitri Villard Productions

Trivia:

Several scenes were filmed in or near the Italian village Vittorio Veneto, including the battle scenes. Many of the extras playing the soldiers in the movie were airmen from nearby Aviano Air Base that volunteered to star in the movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: Ernie says his train leaves at 5:30 a.m., but when Agnes sees him off, it is bright daylight and the sun is nearly vertical.

Quotes:

Henry: Do you love him?
Agnes: Yes.
Henry: Have you told him?
Agnes: Yes, but I don't think he heard me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game-On: (#3.2)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Beer Barrel Polka

A very absorbing story of the young Ernest Hemmingway in Italy during WW-I, I rate it 8 of 10.

There's something screwy in the Imdb ratings for this movie. Almost 25% of the votes are "10", yet its rating is "5.8"!! No way. This is a genuine 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 film, depending on your personal likes and dislikes. I give it "8".

"In Love and War" is based on the real experience of 18-yr-old Ernest Hemmingway who could not get into the regular Army because of a problem in one eye. However, he made it to Italy as a journalist, and actually was wounded near the front lines. He fell in love with his nurse and they vowed to marry after the war.

Hemmingway is played by Chris O'Donnel, which is my only 'beef' with the casting. Although he does a fine job, we all know that Hemmingway was a more gruff person and it never seemed realistic. Sandra Bullock plays the nurse and I liked her very much in this role.

Anyway, when he gets sent back to the USA, she stays in Italy. She thinks she is in love with an Italian doctor and breaks off her pledge to Hemmingway. He doesn't take it well, he smashes up things, goes into a drinking depression and is never the same. Even after the nurse returns to say she is sorry and still loves him. His pride kept him from forgiveness, and presumably was responsible for his suicide in his early 60s.

Overall a fine film about young men and women and their roles in the war, and its aftermath. The photography is beautiful and the dialog unifirmly well-structured.