A Farewell to Arms (1932): watch the full film free, legally

Frederic and Catherine in wartime Italy

Frank Borzage directed this 1932 American pre-Code melodrama, based on Ernest Hemingway’s 1929 semi-autobiographical novel A Farewell to Arms. Oliver H. P. Garrett and Benjamin Glazer wrote the screenplay. Helen Hayes plays Catherine Barkley, an English Red Cross nurse, while Gary Cooper plays Lieutenant Frederic Henry, an American ambulance driver serving with the Italian Army during World War I. Adolphe Menjou appears as Captain Rinaldi, Frederic’s Italian friend.

On the Italian front, Frederic and Rinaldi are caught in a bombing raid while carousing. Frederic then meets Catherine and her friend Fergie in a dark stairway, making a poor first impression while inebriated. At a concert, Catherine explains that her fiancé, a soldier, was killed in battle. Frederic’s first attempt to kiss her earns him a slap, but their relationship soon changes, and he tells her that he loves her.

Before Frederic leaves for the front, Catherine gives him her St. Anthony medal. Rinaldi has arranged for Catherine to be transferred to Milan. Frederic is badly wounded by an artillery shell and sent to a Milan hospital, where Catherine comes to his bedside. A priest performs an unofficial wedding for them. Months later, Frederic’s convalescent leave is canceled, and Catherine leaves for Switzerland to give birth.

Letters withheld and a search for Catherine

Catherine and Frederic are separated again, and she writes to him without disclosing her pregnancy. In Turin, Rinaldi tries to persuade Frederic to enjoy himself, but Frederic is focused on writing to Catherine. Rinaldi secretly has Catherine’s letters returned without allowing them to reach Frederic. The Milan hospital also returns Frederic’s letters.

Frederic deserts and goes to Milan in search of Catherine. There he finds Fergie, played by Mary Philips, who tells him only that Catherine was pregnant and has gone away. Rinaldi eventually tells Frederic that Catherine is in Brissago and apologizes for his role in keeping the pair apart. Frederic rushes to Brissago as Catherine is taken to a hospital near the time of the birth.

The supporting cast includes Jack La Rue as the priest, Blanche Friderici as the head nurse, Mary Forbes as Miss Van Campen, and Gilbert Emery as the British major. Agostino Borgato plays Giulio without screen credit, and Tom Ricketts appears without screen credit as Count Greffi. The soundtrack uses selections from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, Das Rheingold and Siegfried, along with the storm passage from Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini.

Premiere, versions and contemporary response

The film had its world premiere at New York City’s Criterion theatre on December 7, 1932, with two showings each day. It was the first Hemingway novel released as a film. Different versions were released with differing endings, while international audiences saw only the tragic-ending version. A 1938 reissue reduced the running time to 78 minutes. The original 89-minute version had not been seen since 1932 and was long believed lost, until a nitrate print was found in David O. Selznick’s vaults; the uncut film was released on DVD in 1999.

The film received Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Sound Recording, the latter awarded to Franklin Hansen. It was also nominated for Best Picture and Art Direction. Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times found too much sentiment and insufficient strength in the film’s treatment of Hemingway’s novel, though he noted the photography, voice recording, and some of Borzage’s directorial ideas. Mae Tinée of the Chicago Tribune described humor, pathos, suspense, romance and tragedy as part of a satisfying screen play. Irene Thirer of the New York Daily News praised Borzage’s direction and its human treatment. Abel Green of Variety called it essentially “a woman’s picture” and described it as actionful, romantic, sexy and realistically engaging.

In 1960, the film entered the public domain in the United States because David O. Selznick, the last claimant, did not renew the copyright registration in the 28th year after publication.

Film details from the Wikipedia article “A Farewell to Arms (1932 film)”. Text adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.