Hemingway's Adventure's Of A Young Man was still in the making when word of Papa Hemngway's suicide broke on the world. We'll never know what he would have thought of this film, he was not fond of most of the films done from his work. In fact since it's initial release, this film has not been exhibited too often for some reason.The film is based on Hemingway protagonist Nick Adams and his coming of age as an ambulance driver in World War I. Ernest Hemingway's first experience with love and death came during those years when he was serving on the Italian front in their army as an ambulance driver. Watching this film you'll see the origins of the stories in The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell To Arms.Hemingway's sparse style has always really been difficult to capture on film and the same is true here. Richard Beymer is the callow Nick Adams who is from a small town in rural Michigan which even today is as rural as you can get in the USA. Beymer does his best, but the part seems to have been tailor made for the late James Dean had he only lived. Hemingway's Adventures Of A Young Man would have been a well remembered classic with Dean in the title role.The rest of the cast has some well placed cameos along Beymer's journey of life. Juano Hernandez and Paul Newman play a trainer and a long past his prime boxer who Beymer meets while bumming it to New York. This rarest of Newman films affords his fans a chance to see him in something totally different than anything he ever did before or since. Newman had done The Battler for a television film based on that particular Nick Adams story, but this is still a revelation.In war Beymer's two closest companions are Ricardo Montalban his commanding officer and Eli Wallach as his interpreter/orderly. They will also be memorable as will Susan Strassberg in whom the origin of Catherine Barkley from A Farewell To Arms is found.As they do with just about all film adaptations Hemingway purists will find fault with this film, but Hemingway's Adventures Of A Young Man will give one a good introduction to what was the origin of Papa.

Holy smokes, what movie are you people watching, because it sure isn't this one. Maybe if I'd seen it when I was ten I would have been taken with it - that's what seems to happen. Someone sees something when they're young and because they liked it or it touched something, the film becomes a "timeless classic." It's never been a timeless classic and it never will be. It's too long, it episodic in the worst way, and it gives lethargy a whole new name. It was a critical and box-office failure but NOW - now it's a "timeless classic." Not for this kid.That said, there are some nice performances, a lovely score by Mr. Waxman, and it's well photographed. The DVD presentation is top notch.

I saw this movie in junior high and high school on television. I loved it very much, and it actually got me interested in Hemingway's Nick Adams stories. Jessica Tandy is at her best in this film as Nick's long suffering mom. Arthur Kennedy is good , too. It may not have won any Oscar's--the simplicity and innocence of such coming of age stories are not always artsy-artsy enough for the Hollywood crowd--but in its quiet way this is a great film. Michael Pollard as George is wonderful. Most will remember him as Moss in BARNEY AND CLYDE but he plays wonderfully opposite Beymer's Nick. Paul Newman was great as the boxer. The reason I liked this movie so much was because it was not a typical Paul Newman role. Whoever guessed that Newman can really act? He proved it in this small part. I love the film. I only wish it was available on DVD--director's cut--if it is will somebody let me know. I really don't want to buy the entire HEMINGWAY COLLECTION now being sold to get a DVD of this timeless film classic

Susan Strausberg at her best. The story is taken directly from Ernest Hemmingways's life. Nick Adams plays Ernest.Music by Franz Waxman is excellent. Jessica Tandy great performance. Arthur Kennedy is great as well. Paul Newman, don't know why he did this part, but I admire his risking, to allow us to see him, stupid and ugly.I learned a lot from this film, as I was growing up in the Midwest and understood the coming of age agony. "Splender in the Grass" goes well with this type of film, as they are the wounded human soul, and its power to withstand all pain, and be transformed into a hero. The price of wisdom is your innocence, as always.I have seen this film 30 times and still enjoy its charming bitter sweet story. BRAVO Ernest.