All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Today I chose to watch one of the most classic war movies I think I've ever heard of, All Quiet on the Western Front. I didn't know too much about it, other than what IMDB had to say about it in the brief plot summary. I knew it wasn't going to be a happy movie, or even a fun action movie. Beyond that I didn't have much idea what to expect, so it was a bit of a surprise to me that this whole movie is from the perspective of the German soldiers of the first World War. It ended up being a very interesting new take on it for me. For my thoughts on the film, just hit the jump link, and I'll see you on the other side.


Paul (Lew Ayres) is one of many new young recruits to enter the German army. His teacher had given a stirring speech that got him and his classmates all excited to fight for their country and become heroes in the glory of war. Soon once he gets out on the battlefield though, he and all his classmate friends realize that war is far from the glory and idealism that is preached back home. Luckily they have their battle worn commander, known simply as Kat (Louis Wolheim), to keep them safe and teach them how to survive the Hell of the frontline.

It was really interesting to see the movie, which I understand is based on a German novel, portray the German side of the story. The film is in English, and actually was made in America, which I was a little surprised at. For so long I've been used to thinking of Germany as the enemy when I think of the wars, but here we get to know the characters who are all just students tossed into the war. In the film we see many scenes of war and fighting, and because we come to sympathize with these characters, the soldiers who come running across the fields at them become "the enemy." A number of times I remember thinking, shouldn't I be cheering on those "enemy" soldiers? Isn't that the side I should be hoping do well? But you can't help but want to see the German soldiers do well because they're just regular men, like anyone else.

Paul injures a French soldier, but then spends the night trying to keep him alive

There are many scenes were the point of the war is questioned. The soldiers wonder who started the war? Who would ever want all this death and destruction? One of them remarks that he'd never even see a Frenchman or an Englishman before coming to war. And they're all certain that the other side probably doesn't want to fight either. During one of the offensives, Paul gets stuck in a shell crater, and when a French soldier also dives in the crater for protection, Paul stabs him. As the hours wear on, Paul tries to help the man he wounded by giving him water, saying how he never wanted to hurt him, but he thought he was "the enemy."

The battles and trench warfare scenes are chaotic and pretty brutal, especially considering this was made in 1930. There's even a quick flash of a man trying to climb over some barbed wire, and a shell lands on him, and for a second as the smoke clears, we see he is gone, but his hands are left holding the wire!

Another interesting little side story in the movie is about a pair of high quality leather boots one of the students brings. As the movie continues, we see these boots move from soldier to soldier as they die and another person inherits them. Some boots were made for walking, but these boots were made for dying.

The movie is really depressing. We watch these men we come to know get killed, learn to kill, go mad, starve, get wounded and crippled, and generally go through Hell. Paul goes through it all, and even a little bit of extra torture when he finally gets some leave to go home, and he is subjected to the twisted views of war that convinced him to join in the first place. Now it all seems so stupid, hearing old men just talk about how easy it is to just "simply press forward", and "on to Paris" as if it was no big deal. It's so bad, that he can't stand it and goes back early, cutting his time home short.

The film was made very well and holds up to the test of time as a history piece perfectly fine. It really hits home the brutality of war, and how it's not a cool, run and gun affair. It's dirty, unsavory, and it surrounds you with death. I could never say I "enjoyed" the film, because it's incredibly depressing, but I would definitely recommend it. I think seeing the other side of the war is just as important as knowing the facts about it, and it really can get you thinking. It's no wonder that this film has stuck around, it's a real masterpiece.