In Love and War (1996)

11% of critics liked it
(27 reviews)
52% of users liked it
(13,594 ratings)

This romantic historical drama is based on the diaries of Agnes Von Kurowsky, who while serving as a nurse during World War I had a love affair with a young man who would later become one of the great literary figures of the 20th century, Ernest Hemingway. In 1918, 18-year-old Hemingway has… More This romantic historical drama is based on the diaries of Agnes Von Kurowsky, who while serving as a nurse during World War I had a love affair with a young man who would later become one of the great literary figures of the 20th century, Ernest Hemingway. In 1918, 18-year-old Hemingway has volunteered to fight in the great war; while he goes into battle imagining it to be a lark, he soon discovers that the realities of warfare are far more grim, and during a shelling attack in Italy, his leg is severely wounded. Hemingway has taken a great deal of shrapnel, and the doctors at the field hospital decide that amputation would be the quickest and most effective way to deal with the injury. However, the idea of losing a leg horrifies Hemingway, and he pleads with Agnes (Sandra Bullock), the Austrian nurse looking after him, not to let the doctors cut off his limb. Moved by Hemingway's concern, Agnes convinces the doctors to pursue other treatments, and she looks after him during his long and difficult convalescence. Love and passion bloom between the young and naive soldier and the 26-year-old nurse, but while he's eager for her to return home with him as he follows his muse as a writer, she regards him not as the love of her life but as a passing fling and thinks that he's too young to marry. Agnes eventually sends Hemingway a "Dear John" letter; later Hemingway would use her as the basis for several characters in his novels and short stories, not always flatteringly. In Love and War was directed by Richard Attenborough, previously an Academy Award winner for Gandhi. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: Richard Attenborough
Written By: Anna Hamilton Phelan
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Dec 18, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Jul 27, 1999
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
I will cherish my memory of Chris at the end of In Love and War, bearded and bitter, drinking fiercely and trying very hard to be dark and tormented.
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
Boring and artificial
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Before you can say 'gangrene,' the two fall for each other, but everyone knows that historical romances released in December are never destined to end happily.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
The movie, based on the book Hemingway in Love and War, moves at a lanquid pace that never stirs the emotions.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Cautionary tale about the dangers of romantic infatutation.
Luanne Brown, Chico Enterprise-Record
Not as bad as you'd expect. Good for a rainy day.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Candy R

Good cast. Heartwarming movie about love during WWI. Chris plays a young Ernest Hemingway who falls for an older nurse during the war.
Dannielle A

Very frustrating how people fall in lust, mistake it for love, screw up their lives and then let bitterness and anger control them. What a depressing movie.

Cast

            Sandra Bullock as Agnes von Kurowsky

            Chris O'Donnell as Ernest Hemingway

            Mackenzie Astin as Henry Villard

            Emilio Bonucci as Domencio Caracciolo

            Ingrid Lacey as Elsie "Mac" MacDonald

            Margot Steinberg as Mabel "Rosie" Rose

            Kaethe Cherney as Veta Markley

            Carlo Croccolo as town mayor

            Gil Filar as boy

            Colin Fox as Dr Hemingway

            Kay Hawtry as Grace Hemingway

            Philippe Leroy as Count Sergio Caracciolo

            Joseph Long as Italian doctor

            Doreen Mantle as Emilia

            Vincenzo Ricotta as Italian officer

            George Rossi as Triage Medic

            Terence Sach as porter

            Avery Saltzman as Oak Leaves Reporter

            Elena Smirnowa as Leicester Hemingway

            Colin Stinton as Tom Burnside

            Alan Bennett as porter

            Richard Blackburn as Tribune Reporter

            Richard Fitzpatrick as mailman

            Rodger Barton as Sun Times Reporter

            Tara Hugo as Katherine "Gumshoe" De Long

            Ian Kelly as Jimmy McBride

            Vincenzo Nicoli as Enrico Biscaglia

            Rocco Quarzell as Roberto Zardini

            Bruce Lidington as American surgeon

            Nicholas Brooks as Louis Burton

            Matthew Sharp as Larkin Joseph

            Noah Reid as boy

            Tom Goodman-Hill as Houston Kenyon

            Mindy Lee Raskin as Miller Charlotte Anne

            Rebecca Craig as Elena Crouch

            Gigi Vivan as Italian child

            Giuseppe Bonato as grandfather

            Allegra Di Carpegna as Loretta Cavanaugh

            Diane Witter as Adele Brown

            Tracy Hostmyer as Ruth Harper

            Lauren Booth as Anna Sconlon

            Frances Riddelle as Katherine Smith

            Wendi Peters as Rahn Emily

            Laura Nardi as Teresa

            Maria Petrucci as Sonia

            Valeria Fabbri as Anna Maria

            Quinto Rolman as Italian Man

            Raph Taylor as Francesco

            Todd Curran as Skip Talbot

            Tim McDonell as adjutant

            Reno Porcaro as Italian photographer

            Bruno Majean as Alberto Zardini

            Roseline Garland as Carol Hemingway

            Laura Martelli as Isabella Caracciolo

            Cyril Taylor as maitre d'

            Milan Rosandic as waiter
See full cast