Compelling, Daring, and Ahead of Its Time

Rating: 10/10 (3 November 2005)

In a word, "All Quiet On the Western Front" is a masterpiece! When watching this movie, it is sometimes hard to believe it was released in 1930.
While there have been several "anti-war" movies released over the years, this is among the first, and it is executed with tremendous effect. The scene that sticks most in my head takes place inside a bunker in the trenches. The shelling, the constant debris falling from the ceiling, the rats, and the men mentally breaking down are all amplified by the claustrophobic camera work.
The battle sequences are terribly realistic, rivaling those shown in more contemporary films like "Saving Private Ryan" (1998). The mortar explosions very strongly resemble the real thing, such as those shown in World War I archive footage. And the tracking shots of soldiers falling onto barbed wire will leave an indelible impression.
I won't kid around here. This movie is arguably the most violent film of its time. Released before the creation of the infamous Hayes Code, "All Quiet On the Western Front" graphically shows hand-to-hand combat, a soldier killed by a mortar shell (with only his dismembered hands remaining), and an agonizing death in the trenches over the course of hours (and the eyes stay open when the man dies). All of these events (and more) were shown from the perspective of a young German soldier named Paul Bäumer. Lew Ayres, who went on to gain fame as Dr. Kildare and then notoriety as a World War II conscientious objector, gives a strong performance as Bäumer.
This is the second review I have written in which I mention the Hayes Code, and I have no doubt that this movie had at least some influence in its creation. Fortunately for us, Universal Studios felt the subject matter was compelling enough to allow the film to remain basically as-is. Seeing this film makes me wonder what movies would have been like had the Hayes Code not been enforced. Conversely, this particular movie would have been far different if it was produced with the Hayes Code in mind.
"All Quiet On the Western Front" is a movie that is ahead of its time, and I think it is among the best movies ever produced and very deserving of its Best Picture win. If you notice it in a video store, or you see it listed on a classic movie channel some time, do yourself a favor: SEE THIS MOVIE!