All Quiet on the Western Front

Name: All Quiet on the Western Front
Genre: Drama, War
Released: August 24, 1930
Duration: 136 min
Rating: 91
Cast: Arnold Lucy, Ben Alexander, John Wray, Lew Ayres, Louis Wolheim

1930

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Universal acclaim based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 42 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 42 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: August 24, 1930 | TV-PG

Starring: Arnold Lucy, Ben Alexander, John Wray, Lew Ayres, Louis Wolheim, Owen Davis Jr., Russell Gleason, Scott Kolk, Walter Rogers, William Bakewell

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

Director: Lewis Milestone

Genre(s): Drama, War

Rating: TV-PG

Runtime: 136 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Telegraph Martin Chilton

All Quiet on the Western Front remains an essential piece of social history and a heart-wrenching film. Read full review

100

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Perhaps the greatest antiwar film ever made, holding considerable power even now due to Lewis Milestone's inventive direction. Read full review

100

Staff (Not Credited)

A harrowing, gruesome, morbid tale of war, so compelling in its realism, bigness and repulsiveness that Universal’s Western Front becomes at once a money picture. Read full review

Mordaunt Hall

Often the scenes are of such excellence that if they were not audible one might believe that they were actual motion pictures of activities behind the lines, in the trenches and in No Man's Land. Read full review

James Berardinelli

All Quiet on the Western Front is the definitive World War I motion picture, the best of a surprisingly small class of movies. Read full review

Walter Goodman

Lewis Milestone's unsparing direction of the senseless slaughter more than makes up for the soft spots and does justice to Erich Maria Remarque's novel of a generation destroyed by war. Read full review

Pauline Kael

The point of the film gets to you, and though you may wince at the lines Maxwell Anderson wrote (every time he opens his heart, he sticks his poetic foot in it), you know what he means.

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User Reviews

TOG212

May 4, 2020

Honestly my favorite movie ever made. It's an amazing depiction of the depressing lives of soldier of WW1

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JP32

Mar 25, 2020

All Quiet on the Western Front is extremely assured. It has the David Lean-ian breadth of scope, the Spielberg-ian iconography (a masterful sequence follows a pair of boots' point of view through the war), and the kind of filmmaking craft that doesn't even seem possible from a movie made in 1929.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Kai82

Nov 24, 2021

A magnificent movie that captures the grim reality of war. It is based on the book of the same name from German author Erich Maria Remarque who actually served in World War 1. Both media are true classics and were banned back then in Germany as Hitler and the Nazi party were on the rise toA magnificent movie that captures the grim reality of war. It is based on the book of the same name from German author Erich Maria Remarque who actually served in World War 1. Both media are true classics and were banned back then in Germany as Hitler and the Nazi party were on the rise to power. Remarque had to leave Germany, his citizenship nullified and he would be executed if the Nazis got him. By the way: As an enteral shame for Germany no one in the government after World War 2 attempted to reinstall his citizenship. The movie is well crafted and delivers a timeless message. The story is set in World War 1. At school Professor Kantorek gives his near graduation class a passionate speech about the glory, honor and bravery to serve the fatherland in the army. Impressed by this the whole class led by Paul Bäumer enlist in the army. They become members of the second company and are sent to the battlefields of the war. The cruel and grim reality of war will catch up to them. The story is absolutely great. It completely destroys the illusions and fairy tales about war. For those who do not know or did no research: World War 1 was a nightmare. The war was stagnant as no side could overwhelm the enemy. It became a meat grinder and trench warfare that wasted so many lives. Hundreds of thousands were send to their dead by ignorant leaders. Sabaton made a great song with “The Price of a Mile” that also captures this waste of lives. Back to the review. It shows ruthless the suffering of the boys. It is dirty, grim, merciless and futility. The emotions and imagery are praiseworthy. In addition the great cast adds a lot to this. Lew Ayres as Paul Bäumer is mayor impressive. He delivers the full emotional impact of the role. Arnold Lucy as Professor Kantorek has just a smaller role but was so good I remember him today. Also remarkable are William Bakewell as Albert Kropp, Ben Alexander as Franz Kemmerich and Louis Wolheim as Stanislaus (Kat) Katczinsky. A truly great cast that improves the movie. I already praised the visuals and repeat that all sets look amazing. It enhances the atmosphere and seem real. The rest is history. It received the Oscar for the best movie and was forbidden in Germany by the Nazis. The latter is an indicator how good and truthful it was. The movie became a timeless classic and is still often in the best movie list of all times. Not in the top 10 but near always in the top 100. In Germany where I live it is standard to watch this movie in school. Overall this is a timeless classic and a must see for everyone. I recommend this movie for education alone.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Legion743

Mar 3, 2023

The movie shows the hell of war which always leads to destruction and seffering. The filmmaking is top-noch

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

gracjanski

Oct 8, 2022

In 1930 this movie was surely a masterpiece. The story and the development of the characters are very interesting and shows a bit of a history during the 1st WW.
The only thing I noticed while watching it the 2nd time is, that the movie could be shorter, some scenes were too long orIn 1930 this movie was surely a masterpiece. The story and the development of the characters are very interesting and shows a bit of a history during the 1st WW.
The only thing I noticed while watching it the 2nd time is, that the movie could be shorter, some scenes were too long or redundant. Some acting was also bad or outdated.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Aug 5, 2019

As with most pre-Code films, the last thing you'll ever get is a diluted message, and "All Quiet On The Western Front" is most definitely not an exception in that regard. Honestly, though, the mature, ahead-of-its-time thematic statement was one of the only reasons I ended up liking thisAs with most pre-Code films, the last thing you'll ever get is a diluted message, and "All Quiet On The Western Front" is most definitely not an exception in that regard. Honestly, though, the mature, ahead-of-its-time thematic statement was one of the only reasons I ended up liking this movie as much as I did. I understand that, in the 30's, this was still a blossoming medium, with a lot of filmmaking techniques still in their prototypical phases. But damn it, man. Some of the acting in this is just so hammy, overly thespian, and plain bad. I can't help but dock points for it. Especially when other pre-Code films that I happen to really enjoy ("Scarface," "The Champ," etc.) appear to excel in this regard. Still though, the ideas are clear, concise, and almost anachronistically potent, featuring a series of narrative events that really help to sell an overall sense of meaningful sadness. I just wish those events were staged and performed with a bit more consistency.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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