A Farewell to Arms (1957)

My Review

Rock Hudson and Jennifer Jones deliver classic performances as a romantically-involved American soldier and nurse during World War I in war-torn Italy in “A Farewell to Arms.” Director Charles Vidor (“Gilda” 1946) and screenwriter Ben Hecht put together an outstanding film with great production values, good writing, and exceptional performances. It is based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Ernest Hemingway, and the 1932 film version starring Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes.

The supporting cast includes Vittorio De Sica, Mercedes McCambridge, Oskar Homolka, Kurt Kaznar, Elaine Stritch, Jose Nieto, Alberto Sordi, and Joan Shawlee as a blonde nurse. The watchable “A Farewell to Arms” was popular in theatrical release for producer David O. Selznick, The Selznick Company, and 20th Century Fox. It was the seventh highest grossing movie of 1957, with on Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor (De Sica). It was filmed at various locations in Italy.