Review of All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) by Jonathan S — 10 Dec 2008

I can only imagine how this film must have appeared to a 1930 audience. Despite being very dated, this film, based on one of my favorite books, is sheer heartache to watch. For those who know anything about the First World War, the tragedy and senseless carnage were unimaginable.

This movie captures that and the hopelessness at the front. This movie climaxes like few ever had, with an ending that always leaves me in tears, with Paul Baumer reaching for the butterfly in no-man's land and being shot by a sniper.

Then, the hundreds of German soldiers marching to the front and all of them looking back to the camera, as thousands of grave stones are set in the background behind them.