A Farewell To Arms

Gary Cooper plays American ambulance driver Lieutenant Frederick Henry who has enlisted in the Italian army in this, one of the most successful Ernest Hemingway adaptations to be made into a film. Henry meets and falls in love with British nurse Catherine Barkley (Helen Hayes) after being injured during fighting on the Italian front during World War 1 (Hemingway also served in the Italian army as an ambulance driver during the war and was injured in the legs, giving the story a first hand experience).

Whilst ostensibly a love story within a war setting, the film questions the nature and futility of war under the skilful direction of Frank Borzage.

The film collected an Academy Award for Charles Lang for cinematography and an additional nomination for best picture.


Gary Cooper: Lieutenant Frederick Henry
Helen Hayes: Catherine Barkley
Adolphe Menjou: Major Rinaldi
Mary Phillips: Helen Ferguson
Jack La Rue: The Priest
Blanche Frederici: Head Nurse
Mary Forbes: Miss Van Campen
Gilbert Emery: British Major

Directed by Frank Borzage
Produced by Edward A Blatt
Written by Oliver HP Garrett and Benjamin Glazer. Based on the original novel by Ernest Hemingway.


Running Time: 78