"Hallmark Hall of Fame" All Quiet on the Western Front (1979)

Director:

Delbert Mann

Writers:

Paul Monash (screenplay)
Erich Maria Remarque (novel)

TV Series:

"Hallmark Hall of Fame" (1951)

Original Air Date:

14 November 1979 (Season 29, Episode 1)

Tagline:

They left for war as Boys, never to return as men.

Plot:

A young soldier faces profound disillusionment in the soul-destroying horror of World War I.

Plot Keywords:

Corporal | Hospital | School | Disillusionment | Underwear

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Richard Thomas	...	Paul Baumer
Ernest Borgnine	...	Stanislaus Katczinsky
Donald Pleasence	...	Kantorek
Ian Holm	...	Himmelstoss
Patricia Neal	...	Paul's Mother
Paul Mark Elliott	...	Behm (as Mark Elliott)
David Bradley	...	Kropp (as Dai Bradley)
George Winter	...	Kemmerich
Dominic Jephcott	...	Leer
Mark Drewry	...	Tjaden
Colin Mayes	...	Westhaus
Ewan Stewart	...	Detering
Michael Sheard	...	Paul's Father
Katerina Lirova	...	Paul's Sister
Mary Miller	...	Frau Kemmerich

Runtime:

Netherlands:150 min | USA:150 min | UK:123 min | USA:131 min (DVD)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Czech Republic

Company:

Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions

Trivia:

In the scene of Kaiser Wilhelm pinning medals on the soldiers, the Kaiser uses only his right arm and hand, while an aide holds the soldiers' tunics - a nice historically accurate detail, since the real Kaiser Wilhelm had a stunted and withered left arm that was virtually useless.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the town shelling scene, 3 soldiers are seen running wearing their backpacks and full equipment. Yet the men thrown into the air by the explosion aren't wearing any.

Quotes:

Paul Baumer: [to a dying Frenchman] If we threw away the guns, the grenades - we could have been brothers, but they never want us to know that.

Movie Connections:

Version of All Quiet on the Western Front (2009)

One of the Few WWI films around and very good at that

I remembered watching this film in college and got it for my daughter when she was studying WWI. This movie really took advantage of a great opportunity: Teaming Richard Thomas and Ernst Borgnine while they were both still young enough for the parts! Thomas is wonderful, as he always is; but it's Borgnine you remember most as the old soldier, Kat. It is a great story and very well-acted. Just an interesting aside is the appearance of Patricia Neal as the young soldier, Paul's, mother. Patricia Neal portrayed Olivia Walton in the pilot episode of THE WALTONS (THE HOMECOMING); so it was interesting to see she and Thomas as mother and son again. Definitely recommended.