All Quiet on the Western Front (1979)

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

Director:

Delbert Mann

Writers:

Paul Monash (screenplay), Erich Maria Remarque (novel)

Stars:

Richard Thomas, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Thomas	...	Paul Baumer
Ernest Borgnine	...	Stanislaus Katczinsky
Donald Pleasence	...	Kantorek
Ian Holm	...	Himmelstoss
Patricia Neal	...	Paul's Mother
Paul Mark Elliott	...	Josef Behm (as Mark Elliott)
David Bradley	...	Albert Kropp (as Dai Bradley)
Matthew Evans	...	Friedrich Muller (as Mathew Evans)
George Winter	...	Franz Kemmerich
Dominic Jephcott	...	Peter Leer
Mark Drewry	...	Tjaden
Colin Mayes	...	Westhus
Ewan Stewart	...	Detering
Michael Sheard	...	Paul's Father
Katerina Lírová	...	Paul's Sister

Storyline

Paul Baumer (Richard Thomas) is a young German who, along with his graduating high school classmates, enlist in the German Imperial Army during World War I. Originally thinking war would be a great adventure, Paul and his friends discover exactly the opposite as the war drags on and one by one the members of the class are killed in action until only Paul remains.

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Plot Keywords:

war violence | trench warfare | world war one | hand to hand combat | bayonet charge | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Second movie with Patricia Neal playing Richard Thomas's mother. Other movie was, The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (the beginning of the Waltons).

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Goofs

When Corporal Himmelstoss arrives to the front and is welcomed by the main platoon. He commands his new platoon to march away and as they are doing so there is a crew member seen right behind the cast in the top left corner.

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Quotes

Muller: Himmelstoss...there's a latrine down the road. Why don't you go take a jump?

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Alternate Versions

In the full version of the film, the back story of Himmelstoss is greatly expanded to include an introductory scene in which Himmelstoss is shown to have been the town mailman, often harassed by Paul and his friends, and then in an ironic twist became their drill instructor since he was a reservist in the Army. This matches the same back story as shown in All Quiet on the Western Front.

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Connections

Referenced in Gallipoli: Interview with Peter Weir (2005)

User Reviews

Not a remake, it is its own story.

Many people make the mistake of thinking of this movie as a remake of the 1930 film classic. In reality, both movies are a visual telling of the 1929 novel by the same name; at different points in time. This 1979 film is just a retelling of that story, and it's obvious from its differences from the 1930 film. Personally I like this version better...it's not overacted, it was filmed on location, it has a musical score, and it has a feeling of reality to it that the 1930 film just doesn't seem to have. No matter how many times I've watched it, the end always leaves me feeling as if I had been a part of the story and its effects linger with my being. Thanks Richard Thomas and crew

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 November 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hallmark Hall of Fame: All Quiet on the Western Front (#29.1)

Filming Locations:

Czech Republic

Company Credits

Production Co:

Norman Rosemont Productions, Marble Arch Productions, ITC Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min (DVD) 129 min (1980 cut) 157 min (Uncut Edition)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD