A Farewell to Arms (1932)

 Frank Borzage's "A Farewell to Arms"

In 1929, one of the most important novels in American literature was published by Ernest Hemingway. The novel, "A Farwell to Arms," tells a semi-autobiographical story about a love affair between an American ambulance driver and an English nurse during the first World War. The novel was a major success and eventually adapted for the screen in 1932. The film was regarded as a major studio success and was even nominated for four Academy Awards, winning Best Cinematography and Best Sound Recording. 

However, many are quick to point out how short and slimmed down the film is compared to the source material. One such critic was Hemingway himself. As Dan Callahan of "Slant" magazine notes in 2006, "Hemingway...was grandly contemptuous of Frank Borzage's version." Many film critics in 1932 shared with the original author's sentiment. For example, Mordaunt Hall of "The New York Times" criticized that "there is too much sentiment and not enough strength in the pictorial conception of Ernest Hemingway's novel...the film account skips too quickly from one episode to another, and the hardships and other experiences of Lieutenant Henry are passed over too abruptly, being suggested rather than told." 

The film has seen a growth in admiration, however, since its initial criticisms. Despite the film being a far too rushed version of the novel, many point out that Borzage's direction focuses solely on the love between the couple and removes the grander, more pessimistic narratives. This type of film was very much in the wheelhouse of Borzage, as he had made many a film dealing in 'tested love.' Like his other films, "A Farewell to Arms" showcases how strong a love can hold despite difficult and excruciating external circumstances that drive to tear their love apart. 

In eliminating many of the grueling war scenarios and solely focusing on tested love, the film has become a well-like romantic melodrama in the years since its release.