A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms (1932), starring Gary Cooper, Helen Hayes, Adolphe Menjou

Synopsis of A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms is the tale of the love between ambulance driver Lt. Henry (Gary Cooper) and Nurse Catherine Barkley (Helen Hayes) during World War I. Set in Italy, the two fall in love during the war and will stop at nothing to be together. His jealous commanding officer, Major Rinaldi (Adolphe Menjou), transfers Catherine to a different hospital. But an injury on the battlefield takes Frederic to Catherine’s new hospital in Milan. The film also analyses Lt. Henry’s feelings on war and the purpose of fighting.

Product Description 

An American ambulance driver in Italy falls in love with an English Red Cross nurse while recovering from wounds suffered during an enemy attack. The two lovers are separated and reunited again and again amidst the horrors of war until the fateful ending – one of the most moving sequences ever committed to film.

Considered by some to be the crowning achievement of the pre-Code, studio era, A Farewell to Arms is directed by the legendary Frank Borzage, already an Oscar winner for his films 7th Heaven (1927) and Bad Girl (1931). It further solidified the star power of Gary Cooper, who had made his breakout performance three years earlier in The Virginian (1929). Co-star Helen Hayes was a New York theatre star and an Oscar winner for The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931). Charles Lang’s dreamlike cinematography, which gives the film its almost fairy tale quality, won an Academy Award, in addition to a further win for Best Sound Recording and nominations for Best Picture and Best Art Direction. A Farewell to Arms is an unforgettable masterpiece with a timeless message that reverberates throughout the ages.

Editorial review of A Farewell to Arms courtesy of Amazon.com

“Let’s love tonight,” they said, “There may be no tomorrow!”

The first film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s iconic novel, director Frank Borzage’s A Farewell to Arms won two Academy Awards including Best Cinematography and was nominated for Best Picture in 1934. The legendary Gary Cooper plays Lt. Frederick Henry, an ambulance driver in Italy during World War I. He falls in love with a beautiful nurse (Helen Hayes), and the two embark on a torrid love affair amidst the bloodshed of the Great War. Their romance ends just as abruptly when Frederick is called back to the front line but as the Armistice approaches, he desperately makes his way back to the safety of his love.

The ultimate tale of star-crossed lovers, A Farewell to Arms has stood the test of time due to its dazzling visuals, emotional performances, and classic romance that recalls a long-forgotten era.

Cast of characters

• Helen Hayes (Anastasia) … Catherine
• Gary Cooper (The Fountainhead) … Frederic
• Adolphe Menjou (Roxie Hart) … Rinaldi
• Mary Philips (Leave Her to Heaven) … Ferguson
• Jack La Rue (The Kennel Murder Case) … Priest
• Blanche Friderici (The Office Wife) … Head Nurse
• Mary Forbes (The Picture of Dorian Gray) … Miss Van Campen
• Gilbert Emery (Between Two Worlds) … British Major

Additional cast

• Alice Adair … Cafe Girl (uncredited)
• Henry Armetta (Anchors Aweigh) … Bonello (uncredited)
• Herman Bing (The Black Cat) … Swiss Postal Clerk (uncredited)
• Agostino Borgato (Bird of Paradise) … Giulio (uncredited)
• Robert Cauterio … Gordini (uncredited)
• Marcelle Corday … Swiss Nurse (uncredited)
• Gino Corrado (Micro-Phonies) … Italian Soldier (uncredited)
• Peggy Cunningham … Molly (uncredited)
• George Humbert … Piani (uncredited)
• William Irving … Frustrated Opera Singer (uncredited)
• Doris Lloyd (The Time Machine) … Nurse (uncredited)
• Fred Malatesta … Manera (uncredited)
• Paul Porcasi (Svengali) … Harry (uncredited)
• Tom Ricketts (A Tale of Two Cities) … Count Greffi (uncredited)
• Frederick Sullivan … Swiss Café Patron (uncredited)

[Updated July 14,2024]