All Quiet on the Western Front [Blu-ray] [1930]

After the Bible, this book had the highest number of printed copies, some 20 million in 50 languages. A perfect work of art and realistic report on the life of soldiers during WWI. Example: war should be waged by ministers and generals in undies, in a football pitch, armed with sticks... the one who remains standing won the war. After all these people were responsible for the war, not ordinary people. A reminder of what US President Ronald Reagan said: People don't wage wars, governments do. A necessary complement to monuments in memory of the dead...

Remarque's book was a masterpiece of detailing the slaughter of the Great War, and this film is a learning experience to those who would glorify any war. It shows graphically the reason why trench warfare is so futile, why the killing of hundreds of thousands of good men in war is such a stupid waste, and how generations of good people, soldiers and civilians alike, and their lives, whether surviving or not, can be totally lost to war.This film is stark. Being in black and white, it feels all the more cruel. It was burned into my memory after first viewing it as a young child. In my opinion, it should be standard viewing in all school curriculums at an early age, so, just like me, all are influenced by it.If you ever watch a film about the horrors of world war one trench warfare, make it this film. Don't be put off by the production date of 1930. This film in its content, portrayal, re-enactment, and acting performances, has never been bettered by any of the more modern re-makes.This film was made at a time when the horrors of the Great War were only too fresh in everyones mind, with plenty of surviving active participants still being around.There are a few small irks. First, the American accents do not do the film any favours. Second, the DVD version is cut. In the original film there were two scenes of a maxim gun cutting down soldiers. The first is retained, showing French soldiers being mown down by the trench mounted gun. The second scene, with British troops on the receiving end of the maxim gun, with its outer casing wrapped and being cooled by poured on water, has been cut.Other than the above irks, this is about as close as it gets on film to the real thing. In particular note the church yard scene, with shells whistling down on advancing troops and uprooting graves. Just the sight of this gave me the shivers....what hell those brave souls must have gone through.This film is a classic gem. It was made by a generation with different values than those of today, and is totally worthy of its oscar award. Because of this, the film has a completely different feel than any modern WW1 rendition you will ever see. This film shows the stark sense of realism and misery subjected to those poor souls on both sides that had to endure the unendurable, many paying with their lives, like cattle to the slaughter, whilst actively participating in the carnage of men that was the Great War.Despite being observed from the German perspective, this film can move anyone, German or otherwise, literally to tears at the depravity inflicted on such young decent men whose innocence and high ideals were smashed by the ugliness of war.This film is well acted and presented in a way that aims to give the plain truth. Milestone has tried his utmost to make the film look and feel like it did in reality, with a more memorable and poigniant ending than the book, and without any attempt at tarting up the script or filling in with nonesense action sequences. Additionally, you feel how individuals in the film gradually through loss of comrades, and the perpetual grinding down on them of the war, start to lose their minds, becoming resigned to an endless futile war that can only result in death for all.It is a testimony to how the Great War changed the lives and outlook of those participating and involved in it, to the extent that a post war return to the more slower gentle life known prior to the wars outset was no longer possible. It is clear, for example, how Paul, returning home on leave, no longer feels at home, and how he despairs at that loss, having been replaced completely by a burning desire to remain at the fighting front (his new home), with his fellow comrades in arms (his new family); this despite his mothers illness and embracing love for her son who she knows is in great danger despite Pauls aspersions to the conterary.The confrontation by Paul with the schoolmaster who filled their heads with tales of glory, after only Paul remains intact, the remainder having deserted, been killed in action, maimed, or driven mad, is indeed a lesson to all those who would glorify war.What is clear too is how armchair soldiers consider the ongoing campaign without any knowledge or concept at all for the true horrors experienced everyday by men like Paul at the front, who, whilst on leave, would not say anything about their suffering and cover up the events surrounding the loss of comrades for lack of understanding, disbelief, or want of being branded a coward or directly responsible for their deaths.Having seen this film as a boy, I learned something. It is something that everyone who sees this film should learn, and it is this; there are better things for mankind to do in this world than butcher each other, and war is not an adventure of any kind just as death is not an adventure.At the end of the film the young soldiers marching to the front, each turning, and on film the ghost of a white gravestone superimposed over each soldiers smiling face sent shivers down my spine. This acts as an exemplification of the sheer waste of this war, and a warning to others who would attempt to follow the same route.Because of the hard hitting performance of this film as an anti war film, Hitler banned the airing of this film in Germany. However, Gorbbels kept a copy of this film in his own personal film archive, from where most of the prints have subsequently been taken. It is a pity that Herr Hitler, rather than banning it, did not heed the films message. After all, he, like Remarque, and a generation, was also damaged by WW1, having been known to his WW1 trench comrades as a ranting fool. But rather than that, he set off along the same route, almost destroying Germany completely.As a consequence of Remarques's book being made into such a potent anti war film, and in his absence, Remarque's own sister was convicted by a Nazi kangeroo court and executed. The remainder of his family and relatives fled Germany.Anyone contemplating the glorification of war should watch this film. After it, they will certainly have a different perspective.

The revised blue-ray edition of this film classic is truly outstanding. Throughout your breath is simply taken away by the total clarity of the black-and-white images, and the accompanying soundtrack, which results in the feeling that one is watching a brand new film and not one several decades old. Every scene now has a newly forceful and focused - and emotional - impact not really felt before. Recommendation: see it as soon as you can.

One of my favourite Books. I had waited a long time to find a DVD and was really pleased with it. It portrayed the innocence of Paul as he went to the front and the almost cynicism, as he returned. He was so depressed to find that his father had no idea as to how the war should be carried out . Worse still was the reception when he went back to his old school. Even worse was the return to the front to find that Katz, (his hero) was dead. Although the book/film was written from a German perspective, the same rules would apply, if it were British, American or whatever. This should be compulsory reading/watching in schools in the entire world.

This version of All Quiet on the Western Front which is the original, was made as a protest to war. It tells the story of a group of young men who were conscripted into the German Army and their experiences toward the end of the Great War.I have the two versions of this film, both of which are sold by Amazon and both are near to the original story. However, this one although black and white contains scenes of historical interest which could very well have been filmed on the Western Front. It also gives some idea of what life what like on the German Home Front during the war years.Although this would be considered a Golden Oldie, I thoroughly recommend it!

Given this movie is 91 years old I am really impressed. Both the picture and the sound quality could not in my opinion be bettered. And as a bonus you get the 1929 silent version in SD. A bargain at any price. Highly recommended.

All quite on the western front, brilliant bit of movie making I also have the colour remake good but you can not beat the original.

Quite explicit for it’s time … a very important documentation of the horrors of war