ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

All Quiet on the Western Front

Director: Lewis Milestone

Writer: Erich Maria Remarque

Actors:  Lew Aryes, Louis Wolheim, John Wray

Released: 1930

Studio: RKO Pathe Studio

Budget: $1,448,864

Production Company: Universal Pictures

(scene where boys are being sold a bill of goods and dreaming of being heros)

             All quiet on the western front is a Hollywood feature dramatic film about WWI and the experiences of a group of young college boys as they get recruited and fight during the war.  The film takes on an anti-war perspective as the boys are shown being sold a bunch of romanticized ideals by their school teacher and country who mention words like “honor,” “courage,” “service,” and “duty.”  However the young boys quickly realize that war is not a pleasant experience but full of horror and death. The thesis of this film is that young boys and men are sold "a bill of goods" to influence them to serve in the war, however are quickly awakened by the traumatic experiences of war.  This film is based on the novel written by Erich Remarque and story is condensed to fit into the time limitations of film. "Without the enormous amount of invention, condensation, and compression undertaken by even the most accurate attempt at film, the historical would not be dramatic, but a loose, sprawling form far less able to make the past interesting, comprehensible, and meaningful." (38, Rosenstone)  The author of the book describes it as, "This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it.  It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war." (3, Ramarque)

          Even though, All Quiet on the Western Front is a main stream historical drama, it was very controversial because it was an anti-war film when the concept of war was still very celebrated in the world.  This was an innovative film; a Hollywood “conventions, and practices, such works created to contest the seamless stories of heroes and victims that make up the mainstream feature.” (50, Rosenstone)  War films were becoming very popular.  “By 1930, the Great War had been the topic of seventeen German motion pictures.” (180, Imhoof)  As soon as the film was released, there were protests especially in Germany where people released rats in the theatre to deter viewers.  This film led to discussions which facilitated a type of culture and solidarity that actually benefited Hitler and his movement.  “Indeed, discussions surrounding these two films in Gottengen helped normalize ideas about culture and national identity that directly benefited Hitler’s movement. (176, Imhoof)  Hitler used the powerful medium of film to help reach the masses to promote his causes as a type of propaganda tool as an innovative film.  “What follows in this chapter is not only an examination of how a particular Innovative film crates the world of the past and makes a historical argument, it is also meant as an extended demonstration of something alluded to in the past chapter- how a historical both relates and adds to the discourse of history out of which it comes and to which it of necessity refers.” (51, Rosenstone) “Just as governments used propaganda and censorship to boost morale and curtail criticism of the war, so too did they seek to control and coordinate the economic activities of the entire society to meet the needs of prolonged industrial warfare.” (143, Smith) There were specific goals for propaganda. “The aim of propaganda was twofold: to instill patriotism and loyalty in the citizenry at home and to foster hatred for the enemy’s culture and society.” (142, Smith)

            During WWI the new techniques of trench warfare was utilized.  This is when opposing sides dug trenches for themselves and created their fighting scene with craters and bob wire that was usually lined out at night.  Each opposing side would attack each other and advance attempting to further their territory.  This style of fighting proved futile and unsuccessful as the soldiers quickly became shell shocked and driven crazy.  There were many scenes in the film where the boys couldn’t take the experience of war.  For example, the scene when the young soldier runs out of the trench because he cannot take the sheer booming sound of the constant bombing and gets injured as he runs out of the barracks.  This shows the extremely unpleasant conditions that the trench warfare produced.

            There was a real life armisance/ a cease fire,  during the Great War on Christmas in 1914.  During this time both sides stopped fighting and were actually allowed to fratizize.  I can imagine how hard it must have been to commence fighting after you broke bread and ate with someone you are supposed to kill.  There was a scene in the film that showed this type of “The Enemy as Comrades” especially in the last scene of the film.  In this scene, Paul helps nurse a French soldier who he had injured. 

            There were also many new inventions and military technology that made war combats more challenging.  For instance, there were machine guns, mustard gas, and new strategies that were supposed to replace the old style of war.  “Out dated military concepts guided both sides.  Officers believed in a cult of the offensive and which spirited attacks and high troop morale would be decisive.  Despite the availability of new, powerful war technology, such as more deadly artillery.  An old-fashioned vision of warfare persisted, and officers were unwilling to abandon their sabers, lances, and bayonets.”  (Smith, 132) 

            Another scene that showed the horrors of war was when the boys didn’t have enough food to eat.  They joined with the group of older more seasoned soldiers who wouldn’t accept money for their share of food.  This scene showed how quickly money lost its trading value during war.  What was more valued instead was bartering goods for goods; like cigarettes, boots, and weapons.  The exchange of boots was used as a metaphor in the film.  The boots were linked to death.  It seemed like anyone who wore those boots which were originally owned by the young boy who ran out of the barracks and eventually died, were cursed.  What made it ironic is that soldier who got those boots was always at first so very happy to be getting a pair of comfortable shoes, however, the happiness quickly wore off as they died. 

            The anti-war sentiment was shown most strongly in the scene where Paul injures a French soldier, but quickly becomes remorseful and tries to nurse him back to health in order to somehow make peace with him before he dies.  This film is one of the first films in history that used the dark side of war as an influencing medium through media in attempt to change attitudes of the masses.  This film was successful at exposing war for the horrible thing that it is and was significant because it was made before Hitler came into power.  As a result, strong oppositional actions were taken by the German people in attempt to pull and sabotage this film’s success.  For example, it is recorded that some German soldiers would go into the movie theater where this film debuted and let out a bunch of rats to vacate movie goers from seeing its content. Despite these antics, All Quiet on the Western Front won Best Picture Oscar in 1930 and best director award.