Timeless Anti-War Sentiment

Rating: 7/10 (6 July 2008)

From Erich Maria Remarque's classic novel comes this timeless piece of anti-war sentiment which would have been mightily powerful in 1930, yet is so much more subtle now in light of recent films on the same subject.
Maxwell Anderson adapted the screenplay and Lewis Milestone directed a film which makes no apologies for being totally against sending young boys to their death for national pride, or whatever other crazy, high and mighty idea the powers that be may have.
We follow young Paul Baumer and his school pals through the unforgiving trenches of World War I as they fight for the fatherland. The results are of course tragic. Before Paul's first leave of absence, only two of about fifteen boys remain alive, and only one has both his legs.
Paul does much soul-searching throughout the film, and he is amazed at how euphoric he feels about life after the death of a close friend. He also finds he cannot stand being home, having become a creature of war, he cannot function in the normal world.
Ayres performance is a moving one, and it is a great shame we are unable to get further into the mind of this young man via Milestone's film. Remarque's superb novel enabled us to delve deep into the psyche of a young man at war, with more than just the enemy confronting him. Alas screenwriter Anderson found it impossible to convey this on celluloid. The support cast do a most commendable job too (especially Louis Wolheim).
Seeing this at a repertory theatre is recommended, if possible.
Thursday, January 22, 1998 - Video