rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 1930
Directed by Lewis Milestone; produced by Carl Laemmle Jr.; novel adapted by Maxwell Anderson, George Abbott, Del Andrews
Starring Louis Wolheim, Lew Ayres, John Wray, Arnold Lucy, Ben Alexander, Scott Kolk
Below you will find a temporary review for this film. The real (better, more complete) review will be online very soon.
The first talking anti-war film still belongs to the best and most powerful
among anti-war films. 'All Quiet on the Western Front', based on the novel
written by Erich Maria Remarque, tells the story of a couple of young German
men going into World War I with idealism and patriotism that slowly changes
into disillusion and pacifism. Especially the second part of the movie has
its focus on Paul Bäumer (Lew Ayres) and what could be called his mentor,
Katczinsky (Louis Wolheim).
Before that we see the entire group of youngsters talked into enlisting by
their school professor, regretting that during the first days of training
for battle. Their former mailman Himmelstoss (John Wray) is their superior
who seems to enjoy himself a little too much with the job he's been given.
This is only the start of the disillusionment; it gets worse with their
first days in the trenches, the horror of World War I. We see the usual
things in films like this including the men being hungry, scared, getting
mad, wounded or dead.
The good thing about this movie is how director Lewis Milestone has captures
the essence of the novel. Although later on the focus is on Paul he is not
the hero of this story. Milestone observes the group and it seems more of a
coincidence the movie ends up following him. He uses no music but let the
images speak for themselves. Especially his battle scenes that play on a
large scale are terrific. We are able to follow what sort of happens, not
not that clear, giving us the same idea as those men in the trenches. It was
a mess, that is for sure, and the uncompromising images (not seen in the
films years after this one) make sure we understand the horror it must have
been.
With many classic sequences, a clear and important message in a story that
still has meaning after all these years, the powerful ending and so much
more, 'All Quiet on the Western Front' still counts as one of the best war
films ever made. A classic not to be missed.