MovieChat Forums > Spy Game (2001) Discussion > Is there a connection to Ernest Hemingwa...

Is there a connection to Ernest Hemingway?

posted 16 years ago by CindyH
4 replies | jump to latest

I ask this because Elizabeth Hadley Richardson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Hadley_Richardson) was Hemingway's first wife . The female lead in this film is Elizabeth Hadley. Other than the name, there appears to be no further resemblance between the two women. Is it a curious coincidence?

When it comes to films, I don't believe in coincidence most of the time. They heavily research names and such just to be sure that they don't accidentally align a character with someone. My bet is that someone is a big Hemingway fan.

ETA: It is also interesting that of Hemingway's four wives, the one possibly named in the film is the one who is grandmother to both Margaux and Mariel Hemingway; both are (or were) actresses.

[–] Recognizer 15 years ago

I think you're on to something here. Also, if memory serves, didn't Muir claim to have 4 ex-wives? If so, then it offers strong support to your theory.

Scaroth of the Jageroth
Formerly known as jimsting

[–] CindyH 15 years ago

Yes actually, that's true. I even wrote it myself there and it still didn't click into place.

Okay well I do believe someone was a Hemingway fan. It's just a bit of trivia to note is all.

[–] indotexan 14 years ago

And, atleast one of Hemmingway's chracters was a nurse in a war torn country, forgive me if I'm wrong but I think it was in The Sun Also Rises.

Then again, I would think that the "Elizabeth" comes from the fact that it was a tribute to the director's mom, Elizabeth Jean Scott. The "Hadley" part is rather interesting, but, to me, atleast, "Hadley" sounds like a fairly common British surname.

I'd say that it's just a coincidence, I'm sure if she had been named "Elizabeth Brown" then someoneone could find someone with that name linked to someone famous.

"I stick my neck out for nobody."- Rick Blaine, Casablanca

[–] claudeh-1 14 years ago

"nurse in a war torn country"
I think you are referring to A Farewell to Arms which relates to Hemingway's real life experience as an ambulance driver in Italy during the First World War. The book was published in 1929.

There was also a 1957 movie made with Rock Hudson (as Lt. Frederick Henry) and Jennifer Jones as an English nurse and previously in 1932 under the same name with Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes. Besides the horrors of war their love story is one of the important parts of the plot. Hemingway did have a love story with a nurse in Milan where he had been hospitalized after being wounded.

The male character (who is similar to Hemingway in real life) was named Lt. Frederick Henry.