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

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

Also Known As:

In einem anderen Land (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Addio alle armi (Italy) [it]
Adiós a las armas (Spain) [es]
Apohairetismos sti simaia (Greece) [el]
Farväl till vapnen (Sweden) [sv]
Farvel til våbnene (Denmark) [da]
Jäähyväiset aseille (Finland) [fi]
L'adieu aux armes (France) [fr]

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:

Though in the novel the character of Catherine Barkley is described as very tall, actress Helen Hayes is a mere five feet tall.

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:

Referenced in Licence to Kill (1989)

Soundtrack:

Santa Lucia

Simply sublime.

This is a magnificent picture, photographed sublimely by Charles Lang (who deservedly won an Oscar). Cooper and Hayes are brilliant as the World War One lovers - and the ending will bring you to tears. How wonderful to see Coop so vulnerable and so in love, and Hayes just shines from the screen like a diamond.

This film is very under-rated. The camerawork is ground-breaking and original - look for the shot when Hayes kisses Cooper as he is wheeled into his hospital room. Amazing. I really love this film.