Hemingway & Gellhorn tells the story of legendary writer Ernest Hemingway meeting and falling in love with his third wife, Martha Gellhorn.
Gellhorn inspired Hemingway to write For Whom the Bells Tolls, and she was an interesting character in the story of Hemingway’s life. He was married a total of four times, with the first two wives being more submissive to Hemingway, and ultimately also being left by Hemingway before they could leave him.
Gellhorn was a journalist and a strong woman, at least by most accounts. And she was the only one of Hemingway’s wives to leave him. Huh.
I believe the film will mostly tell the tale of Hemingway and Gellhorn’s courtship, which took place primarily through the Spanish Civil War, which was the setting of For Whom the Bell Tolls. It may tell more of their life after that, but I’m not 100% sure of that.
Hemingway & Gellhorn
Hemingway & Gellhorn is a TV movie made for HBO. So it’s not TV, it’s HBO. It’s a Not TV Movie, but an HBO Movie? Whatever. Phillip Kaufman is directing, and he has an adventurous past, having written Raiders of the Lost Ark, though he hasn’t directed much. Oddly, James Gandolfini is producing, so he clearly still has some sway at HBO.
Hemingway & Gellhorn Trailer
Hemingway & Gellhorn Release Date
May 28, 2012.
Pictures
Who’s In It?
Nicole Kidman … Martha Gellhorn
Clive Owen … Ernest Hemingway
Robert Duvall … Russian general
Connie Nielsen … Tall blonde woman
Rodrigo Santoro … Zarra
Parker Posey … Mary
Molly Parker … Pauline
Tony Shalhoub … Koltsov
Mark Pellegrino … Max Eastman
David Strathairn … John Dos Passos
Jeffrey Jones … Charles Colebaugh
Brooke Adams … Madrid woman
Santiago Cabrera … Robert Capa
Joan Chen … Madame Chiang
Peter Coyote … Maxwell Perkins
Diane Baker … Mrs. Gellhorn
Patrick Mapel … Alfred Gellhorn
Nancy Guerriero … Hotel Guest
Lars Ulrich … Joris Ivens
Saverio Guerra … Sidney Franklin
Keone Young … Mr. Ma
Ivonne Coll … Gypsy crone
Anthony Brandon Wong … Chou En-lai
Bubba Lewis … Soldier
Remy Auberjonois … John Ferno
Edin Gali … Hungarian
Steven Wiig … Finnish Soldier
Laura Bayonas … (Voice) (singing voice)
Catherine Kim Poon … China girl
What’s Good About It?
I like Clive Owen as Ernest Hemingway, and Nicole Kidman looks pretty solid in the trailer. Should be interesting, especially as the main character is one of the literary lights of the 20th century.
What’s Bad About It?
I think the filmmakers think of Hemingway as he tried to portray himself, rather than as he really was. Hemingway was a smart guy, and he created a public persona that was bigger than life. I think we’ll end up seeing the persona, rather than the man.
Our Clever Prediction
Hemingway & Gellhorn is an HBO movie, so there’s no box office to look at. That said, I think the film will do well, and win a bunch of Emmys.
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