A German youth eagerly enters World War I, but his enthusiasm wanes as he gets a firsthand view of the horror.A German youth eagerly enters World War I, but his enthusiasm wanes as he gets a firsthand view of the horror.A German youth eagerly enters World War I, but his enthusiasm wanes as he gets a firsthand view of the horror.
- Won 2 Oscars
- 7 wins & 2 nominations total
Ben Alexander
- Kemmerich
- (as Kemmerick)
Walter Rogers
- Behn
- (as Walter Browne Rogers)
Slim Summerville
- Tjaden
- (as 'Slim' Summerville)
G. Pat Collins
- Bertinck
- (as Pat Collins)
Zasu Pitts
- Frau Bäumer - Silent Version Trailer only
- (scenes deleted)
Ernie Adams
- 2nd Medic Orderly
- (uncredited)
Best Picture Winners by Year
Best Picture Winners by Year
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWith the loss of limbs and gory deaths shown rather explicitly, this is undoubtedly the most violent American film of its time. This is because the Production Code was not strictly enforced until 1934 and also because Universal Pictures deemed the subject matter important enough to allow the violence to be seen. The scene where a soldier grabs a strand of barbed wire and then is blown up by an artillery shell, leaving only his hands still grabbing the barbed wire, was told to director Lewis Milestone by a former German soldier working as an extra, who saw that happen during a French attack on his position during the war. Milestone used it in the film.
- GoofsWhen Paul talks to the dead soldier in the pit, the soldier is breathing visibly and at one point his eyes blink.
- Quotes
Paul Bäumer: You still think it's beautiful to die for your country. The first bombardment taught us better. When it comes to dying for country, it's better not to die at all.
- Crazy creditsLater reissues of the film mentioned that the film was an Academy Award winner in the opening credits.
- Alternate versionsThe Library of Congess also restored a sound version, 133 minutes long, which is the version occasionally shown on American TV.
- ConnectionsEdited into No Greater Glory (1934)
Featured review
Still one of the most worthwhile films about the hard realities of war, "All Quiet On The Western Front" has numerous memorable images and thoughtful moments. Too many war dramas, regardless of their perspective, resort to distortions of history and overblown characters that make them convincing only to those who watch uncritically. This one works nicely by keeping the characters low-key and by, for the most part, allowing the events and situations to speak for themselves. It's not perfect in this respect, and it is perhaps a movie more to be respected than enjoyed, but it has many notable strengths.
The characters, most of them young soldiers, are played very simply, even plainly, but this is by no means a weakness - rather, it allows the movie to show what war is like for real soldiers rather than for idealized or stereotyped characters. The two most important characters are developed more fully, and are played well. Louis Wolheim's resourceful 'Kat' is the liveliest of the soldiers, and as Paul, Lew Ayres is quite understated but very believable. His character is well-chosen as the focal point of most of the movie.
The close-fighting nature of World War I particularly lends itself to this kind of movie, and the atmosphere is convincing and detailed. The contrast with the civilian scenes is also set up well, although the civilian scenes sometimes seem slightly less convincing. The overall effect is a movie that, while you probably wouldn't call it exciting or fun, is one you won't forget.
The characters, most of them young soldiers, are played very simply, even plainly, but this is by no means a weakness - rather, it allows the movie to show what war is like for real soldiers rather than for idealized or stereotyped characters. The two most important characters are developed more fully, and are played well. Louis Wolheim's resourceful 'Kat' is the liveliest of the soldiers, and as Paul, Lew Ayres is quite understated but very believable. His character is well-chosen as the focal point of most of the movie.
The close-fighting nature of World War I particularly lends itself to this kind of movie, and the atmosphere is convincing and detailed. The contrast with the civilian scenes is also set up well, although the civilian scenes sometimes seem slightly less convincing. The overall effect is a movie that, while you probably wouldn't call it exciting or fun, is one you won't forget.
- Snow Leopard
- May 15, 2002
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $1,200,000 (estimated)
- Runtime2 hours 32 minutes
- Color
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