A Farewell to Arms - BLU-RAY

The Soldier's Tale is an animated classic by the renowned New Yorker illustrator R.O. Blechman, based on Igor Stravinsky's 1918 composition. This poetic tale revolves around a young soldier's return home, where he strikes a deal with the devil, trading his beloved violin for boundless wealth. Haunted by regret, the soldier sets out on a journey to reclaim his soul and rediscovers the life he left behind. As the soldier ventures into these alternate realities, Blechman's simple pen-and-ink drawings explode into colorful fantasies. The film was a milestone in the marriage of animation and music (Stravinsky's Rite of Spring was used to score one of the most memorable sequences of Walt Disney's Fantasia). This 2K restoration of The Soldier's Tale (from the filmmaker's personal 35mm print) is accompanied by Blechman's Christmas-themed short film No Room at the Inn.

Set in Europe during World War I, the plot focuses on the tragic romance between Frederick Henry (Gary Cooper), an American ambulance driver serving in the Italian Army, and Scotish Red Cross nurse Catherine Barkley (Helen Hayes). Major Rinaldi (Adolphe Menjou) envies their relationship and has Catherine transferred to Milan. When Frederick is wounded in battle, he finds himself in the hospital where Catherine works. They continue their affair until he returns to battle. Now-pregnant Catherine settles in Switzerland, and when her many letters to Henry remain unanswered because his responses are held up by the censors, she assumes he has abandoned her. As the Armistice nears, Frederick journeys to Switzerland to find Catherine, who dies in childbirth with him at her side.

Though living in a squalid Berlin boardinghouse, salesman Peter (Aribert Mog) and his fiancée Hella (Brigitte Horney) were happy with one another. However, when he gets an opportunity in Dresden-and holds off on sharing the news to surprise her-cruel circumstance and the resentments of their fellow boarders will have devastating impact. Robert Siodmak's urban comedy-drama, co-scripted by Emeric Pressburger, also stars Emilia Unda. 73 min. Standard; Soundtrack German; Subtitles English; audio commentary; alternate ending. In German with English subtitles.