Film Review

 A Farewell to Arms (1957)

   Now I'm going to speak on the film A Farewell to Arms (1957). It is a 1957 Americanfilm directed by Charles Vidor. The film is the second feature film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1929 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. The picture starres Gary Cooper as Frederick Henry and Helen Hayes as Catherine Barkley.

   That was the period of World War I, when a young American lieutenant returned from vacation to the Italian front. There his flat-mate Rinaldi, a profession surgeon, introduced Henry to his acquaintance, American nurse, Catherin Barkley. But the next day the man went to the attack at the head of the river, where he was seriously wounded and got to the hospital to Milan where Catherine was also moved. After an operation, they spent almost all their time together. Thus their love deepened as they got to know that faced alone that terrible war and cruel world. However, when Frederic returned to the front to Gorozia, a big retreat from the front began. Together with Rinaldi and the army, he faced Italian military police, who questioned officers and then shoot. But Frederic escaped by diving into the river. He returned to Milan, having decided that for him the war was finished and he would no longer participate in it. And then together with Catherine they went to Switzerland. Everything was well, until it was time for Catherine’s childbirth, as the doctors had to do a caesarean, but the baby died. And several hours later Henry knows that it was over for his wife, as he died.

    So speaking on the film, I can't say that it impressed me; and firstly, it is due to the director's work. In fact the whole picture can be divided into two parts: only war and only love. Too many episodes are dedicated to war (for example, I didn't experience the whole tragedy of the time, and tragic life of the main characters). While the rest of time is dedicated to love, what actually makes it typical American story about love. And last, the film too tightened: if at first he was a little electrifies, starting from the middle of this voltage drops, and at times it even funny.

   As for the actors, the only one thing can be said: their play was great, though sometimes, it seemed that they overacted a bit. And another thing I'd like to mention is that, in my opinion, the film Henry did not meet Hemingway's Henry: in the film actor matched with too Hollywood appearance (I think the role of a superman would be right for him).

   In conclusion, I'd like to say that as in any other screen version, there are many moments that are cut out in this film, besides the first chapter of the book is missing, but nevertheless, it does not harm the film.