Disappointing for such an honored classic

Rating: 5/10 (7 August 2005)

Disappointing for such an honored classic. This sweeping war epic was another victim of that period of adjustment between silent and talking motion pictures. If it had come out just two years later it could have been great. As it is, Erich Maria Remarque's grim war novel is turned into a piece of bubblegum melodrama by the poor writing and horrible cast. It's the acting, really, that brings the film down more than anything else. Aside from Louis Wolheim as veteran soldier Katczinsky, there is not a single actor who can say a line without striking a pose and giving the hammiest over the top performance. They kill nearly every scene. It's a wonder that Wolheim was able to turn in such a good performance next to these deadbeats. On the upside, it is a great production. The visuals are grand, and the battle scenes are impressive, even by today's standards. Aside from not being able to tell good acting from bad, Lewis Milestone did quite a good job directing the film. In the end the movie pretty much breaks even.