Gary Cooper in Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms" (1932)
61On the Italian front during World War I, Lieutenant Frederic Henry (Gary Cooper), an officer on an ambulance in the Italian Army, delivers some wounded soldiers to a hospital. While out carousing with Italian Captain Rinaldi (Adolphe Menjou), they're interrupted by a bombing raid. Frederic and English Red Cross nurse Catherine Barkley (Helen Hayes), who fled from the nurses’ dormitory in her nightclothes, take shelter in the same dark stairwell. Somewhat drunk, Frederic makes a poor first impression.
Rinaldi persuades Frederic to go on a double date with two nurses, Catherine and her friend Helen "Fergie" Ferguson (Mary Philips). During a concert, Frederic and Catherine walk into the garden, and Catherine reveals she's been engaged for eight years to a soldier killed in battle. Finding themselves alone, he tries to kiss her and she slaps him, but after they talk more, she asks him to kiss her again. In the darkness, he romantically seduces her, over her resistance, and is taken aback and touched to discover she was a virgin. Frederic tells her he loves her.
In the morning, three ambulances, including Frederic's, are leaving for the Second Battle of the Piave River. Frederic tells Catherine that what happened between them was important to him, and that he will survive the battle unscathed. Catherine gives him the St. Anthony medal from her neck. Rinaldi observes this, then enters a major's office where it is revealed that Rinaldi orchestrated the separation to prevent Frederic from being with Catherine. The head nurse suggests sending Catherine back to base, but the Major (Gilbert Emery) transfers Catherine to Milan.
At the front, Frederic is badly wounded in the legs and head when an artillery shell blows up his bunker. Frederic is sent to the hospital in Milan where he receives a chilly reception from Fergie while Catherine rushes to his bed to embrace him. Later that night, an Italian Army chaplain, Padre" (Jack La Rue), visits Frederic and sees that he and Catherine are lovers. He asks if they would marry if they could, and they answer "yes". He then performs an unofficial wedding service for the couple.
Months later, Fergie warns Frederic that if he gets Catherine pregnant, she will kill him. Back at the hospital, Frederic is told his convalescent leave is canceled. While waiting for his train, Catherine confides to Frederic that she is scared of each of them dying. He promises he will always come back, and they kiss before he leaves. Catherine then meets with Fergie and reveals to her that she is pregnant and is going to Switzerland to have the child.
While apart, Catherine writes letters to Frederic, never revealing her pregnancy. In Turin, Rinaldi tries to entice Frederic to have some fun, but Frederic is intent on writing to Catherine. Rinaldi, unbeknownst to Frederic, is having all letters from Catherine "Returned to sender". Meanwhile, the hospital at Milan returns all of Frederic's letters to him, marked "person unknown." He tells the Padre that he is deserting and going to Milan to find Catherine.
Frederic makes it to Milan but finds only Fergie is there, who refuses to tell him anything except that Catherine was pregnant and is gone. Rinaldi meets Frederic at a hotel where Frederic reveals that Catherine is going to have a baby. Rinaldi, realizing his mistakes, tells Frederic that she is in Brissago, Switzerland and helps Frederic get there, apologizing for keeping the lovers apart.
Meanwhile, Catherine discovers that all of the letters to Frederic have been returned, marked "Return to Sender". She goes into labor and is taken to the hospital where she endures prolonged and unproductive labor. As Frederic arrives, Catherine is wheeled into the operating room for a Caesarean section. After the operation, the surgeon tells Frederic that the baby, a boy, died in the womb long before Catherine came to the hospital.
When Catherine regains consciousness, she and Frederic exchange heartbreaking endearments and plan the future, until Catherine begs Frederic to hold her tight because she is going to die and is afraid. He soothes her and tells her they can never really be parted. She tells him she is not afraid and dies in Frederic's arms as the sun rises. Frederic picks up her body, slowly, sobbing "Peace, Peace."
A 1932 American pre-Code romance drama film directed by Frank Borzage, produced by Frank Borzage, screenplay by Benjamin Glazer and Oliver H.P. Garrett, based on Ernest Hemingway's semi-autobiographical novel, "A Farewell to Arms" (1929), cinematography by Charles Lang, starring Helen Hayes, Gary Cooper, Adolphe Menjou, Mary Philips, Jack La Rue, Blanche Friderici, Mary Forbes, and Gilbert Emery.
The film received Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Sound, and was nominated for Best Picture and Best Art Direction.
Laurence Stallings' original Broadway play starred Glenn Anders and Elissa Landi and was staged at the National Theatre September 22, 1930 to October 1930.