Despite The Dated Aspects It Remains A Great Testament To The Cult Of The Soldier

Rating: 8/10 (10 November 2012)

This is a film that has seared itself upon the collective memory of the human race. Nearly everything mankind can remember about The Great War 1914-18 is derived from the film version of Erich Maria Remarque's ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT , the brainwashing of a nation's youth in to joining the army , of having no personal animosity towards the enemy etc . This mindset runs deeply and despite continual factual accounts on the reality of the war such as Gordon Corrigan's Mud Blood and Poppycock the idea that the First World War was for nothing and was nothing more than senseless slaughter of young men remains. Let's put it this way - Is there a difference between Germany invading Belguim in 1914 and Nazi Germany invading Poland in 1939 and if so how is it different ?
One can see clearly see the case against war and director Lewis Milestone reinforces the anti war aspect to the hilt . The Germans are just like us so much so that they all speak with American accents and have American mannerisms and by trying to make the Germans identifiable to a Hollywood audience he overstates the case and one can't help thinking that perhaps it would have worked better as a silent film though to be fair to the director this would have meant a silent battle sequence where Paul Baumer and his battalion attack the French lines . Despite being made 82 years ago this battle sequence still remains breath taking
One literary critic argued that the book is not an anti-war novel at all but is instead a celebration of the cult of the soldier . Even if you disagree with this you can see what the critic is saying . In this film version a group of old Germen men violently argue how best to win the war . Later Paul's schoolmaster invites Paul back to class to address the pupils . When Paul gives a lecture that the war is a hell on Earth he is despised for being a traitor . But Paul is the expert on war , none of the civilian characters have been on the front line his views about the horrors of war are the only ones that matter . It's interesting that in 2012 roles are reversed with human beings who are vocally opposed to war are those people who have never actually been in one . ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT can indeed be interpreted as a testament to the soldier