Holds up extremely well today, almost 80 years on from its original release

Rating: 10/10 (17 June 2008)

A masterpiece, and one of the greatest films of all time is Milestone's war classic "All Quiet On The Western Front". I still find it remarkable that the film was even made in 1930, given that the novel the film is based on was told from the German perspective. A truly harrowing, and one feels, incredibly realistic, portrayal of the horrors of WW1, this is uncomfortable, yet essential and compelling viewing. Lew Ayres gives a beautiful performance as the young soldier protagonist. For a film made when sound was in its infancy, it is astonishingly fresh on a technical level. The camera-work is innovate and imaginative, the dialogue well-written and considered, the directing excellent, and the acting profound. An extremely important film on many levels.