| 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
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Rock Hudson and Jennifer Jones |
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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 of his entire career.
It is evident from the sweeping credits (like Gone With The Wind) that Selznick is attempting to present another fabulous epic film. The ensuing feature runs 152 minutes and does contain some impressive large scale sequences such as the men marching up the Alps to war. The photography is exquisite with beautiful color and filming on location (especially the Switzerland scenes) certainly resulted in some fabulous 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 rigid and mannered for the young Catherine and she does not compliment Hudson who is genuinely fresh and appealing. Jennifer was 38 when she made this film and frankly, she was too old to play the role effectively. Had the film been made ten years earlier, she and the film would probably have fared much better.
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