All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
LOW LEVEL VIOLENCE
Unlike most "message" films which date themselves almost immediately, Lewis Milestone's low-key unpolished and deeply-felt screen adaptation of the Erich Maria Remarque anti-war novel has lost little of its original impact. Years after its release it was still being banned in countries mobilizing for war. The plot follows a group of young German recruits in World War I through their passage from idealism to disillusionment. As the central character Paul Baumer declares, "We live in the trenches and we fight. We try not to be killed--that's all." All Quiet is an anthology of now famous scenes: Ayres trapped in a shell crater with a man he has killed; the first meeting of the recruits and the veterans; infantrymen being mowed down to machine-gun visual rhythms; a moonlight swim with French farm girls; Ayre's pacifist speech to his astonished schoolmates; and the final shot of the soldier's hand reaching for a fatal butterfly.
| Status: | Normal |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 131mins |
| Origin: | UNITED STATES |
| Aspect Ratio: |
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Member Reviews (11)
11 Member
Reviews
BrianM
says
For a film that's over 80 years old this anti-war story still packs a punch. Sure the acting style is over the top (now) but performances are, generally excellent. Battle footage is extremely realistic and there is no Hollywood ending for these German soldiers. Powerful.
Antony D
says
A war movie of 1930 that is still very good watch today! The message is clear. The war scenes realistic (without the obligatory blood and guts of today's war movies). It shows the stupidity of war and even more stupid the trench war fare..... Many millions of ppl dies and not an inch of ground was gained ....
seriously worth watching!
It is digitally remastered but the sound was still not good.. and the era's over-acting were the reasons to deduct a star!
Josh
says
Ahead of its time and still relevant today, the original 'All Quiet On The Western Front' presents the uncompromising, soul destroying horror of World War I from the point of view of an average German soldier.
BennyRuss
says
Considering when this was made, it is an extremely good movie. However, the reason I do not give it a five is because I've read the book and they changed the main character to look heroic and brave, when really he was just a normal person, a fly on the wall, didn't do much at all.
John
says
A 1930 movie classic. A "message" movie, but an important one. Is a true all-time classic.
Shell
says
This was made in 1930 (can’t remember when the book was written), and we are still making similar mistakes… sigh. The movie is showing it’s age but the poignant themes are still relevant today. Not very subtle and you have got to love 1930’s over acting, but it stands up well. A good example of the book being better than the movie though.
Justin M.
says
Read the book to try to understand what the directoer is trying to do. Then see this movie. It is over-acted but that was the style of the day when it was filmed. It is like watching a stage play but is a great companion to the book.
Anne C.
says
Nigel W.
says
An actual anti-war movie (rather than anti-military) which has some very good battle scenes which depict the true terror of war. No heroes in this movie, only suffering and death. An antidote to much of the usual sanitised war drivle coming out of Hollywood.
Lisa C.
says
Over the top acting. No involvement with the characters. All bombs nothing else
Paul Nichols
says