A Farewell to Arms

Frederick Henry (Rock Hudson) is an American officer serving in an ambulance unit for the Italian Army during World War I. While recovering from a wound in a British base hospital in northern Italy, he is treated by nurse Catherine Barkley (Jennifer Jones), and they engage in an affair. Frederick's friend, the doctor convinces the army that Frederick's knee is more severely wounded than it actually is. Frederick and Catherine continue their romance but do not marry. Catherine discovers that she is pregnant, but after sneaking alcohol into the hospital for Frederick, head nurse Miss Van Campen (Mercedes McCambridge) discovers the duplicity and separates them. She informs Frederick's superiors that he has fully recovered from his wounds and is ready for active duty. During their separation, Catherine believes that Frederick has abandoned her. Following the Battle of Caporetto, Frederick and his close friend Major Alessandro Rinaldi (Vittorio De Sica) are among the dispirited and retreating Italian army. Along the path, several people die or are left behind because of exhaustion. Rinaldi's defeatist comments land him before a drum-head court-martial, falsely accused as a German infiltrator, and he is executed by firing squad. When Frederick salutes incorrectly, the judge becomes suspicious that he is also an infiltrator. Frederick flees, jumping into the river. Wanted by the Italian authorities, Frederick evades capture and finds Catherine. They flee to Milan to hide at a lake on the Swiss border. Fearing arrest by the police, Catherine persuades Frederick to flee to Switzerland by rowboat. Claiming to be tourists trying to evade the war, they are allowed to remain in neutral Switzerland. Catherine's pregnancy progresses and all appears well, but she has difficulty during childbirth and a Caesarean section is performed by her doctor (Oscar Homolka). Their child is stillborn, and Catherine dies shortly afterward of a hemorrhage. Frederick leaves, shocked, and wanders the empty streets.