A FAREWELL TO ARMS
Color, 152 min. Released: December, 1957 (MGM) Cast: Rock Hudson, Jennifer Jones (as Catherine Barkleyt), Vittorio De Sica, Oscar Homolka, Mercedes McCambridge, Elaine Stritch Director: Charles Vidor Producer: David O. Selznick Complete Credits at IMDB Ernest Hemingway's celebrated novel about a young lieutenant and an English nurse who fall in love during World War I is brought to the screen with David O. Selznick's usual grandeur. This would be Selznick's final film production basically due to the fact that the A Farewell To Arms was a commercial and critical bomb. It would also prove to be a severe set back to Jennifer Jones' career. A Farewell To Arms had previously been filmed back in 1932 with Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes. That version was a very tame affair compared to this one. It stuck mainly to the love story, stayed under 90 minutes long and was a great success. Selznick had greater plans for the remake. He was still trying to out-do Gone With The Wind but A Farewell To Arms would prove to be the least successful film of his entire career. It is evident from the sweeping credits (like Gone With The Wind) that Selznick is attempting to present another towering epic film. The ensuing feature runs 152 minutes and does contain some impressive large-scale sequences such as the soldiers marching up the Alps to war. The photography is exquisite with beautiful color and filming on location (especially the Switzerland scenes) that resulted in many impressive scenes. However, the film is way too long and some scenes (like the childbirth scene at the end) could well have benefited with some editing. This is not one of Jennifer's best performances. She is too mature, rigid and mannered for the young Catherine and the chemistry between her and Hudson is lacking. Had the film been made ten years earlier, she and the film would probably have fared much better. Back to Film Index
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