Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-20

Suppression in Germany of the war
film, "All Quiet on the Western Front"
is source of much speculation on this
side of the water, because it had been
hailed as an expression of the German
feelings on war which were shared by
much of the world. Explanations Of
fered in the United States center
around the fact that the menace of the
Hitler element of opposition to the gov
eminent made it necessary to remove
an excuse for jingoistic violence.
Government cenSorS," observes the
Milwaukee Journal, SAY it is not pres
entation of the World War, but of
German defeat. This criticism seems
strange to Americans who saw the film,
For 1t is not picture of eithSr defeat
or victory but of incidents of a SOL
dier'S life. Moreover, with change of
uniform and insignia, most Americans
would have accepted it as a portrayal
of the French or the British Army,
though the book was by German SOL
der. We can sympathize with German
objections, however. The German gov
eminent is having difficult time with
the hopeless, destructive demagoguery
of Hitler. Anything that gives the Hit
Ter following something to shout about
is bad for the stability of a new gov
eminent. Plainly All Quiet was giving
the Hitler crowd an occasion for max
ing trouble"
Few who saw the picture in this
country, if comments are to be be-
lieVed," says the Utica Observer Dis
patch, thought of this picture as slur
upon the German soldiers or people.
The fact that the characters were Ger
man was merely incidental. There was
no attempt to get at the issues for
which the war was fought, merely q
graphic painting of the CHASTITY side OF
war. The German boys who wenS
through paroxySms of terror when under
gun fire for the first time, were no diff
terent from the boys of any other ma
ton. The transition through which
they passed from eager, youthful ell
thusiaSm to disilluSioned, bitter de-
Spair was the common experience of all
the soldiers who served as they served.
Probably this is understood by the mass
of German people who were f1ocking to
see the picture. The protests have
come mainly from the groups of vet
Grams and other patriotic organizations
which are naturally especially sensitive
on the subject of the war"
X X X X
at transcends particular armies and
wars. 1t has a sweep and breadth of
sympathy that no other war play has
achieved. In Directing to it the Hitler
ties are Directing to legitimate propa-
ganda for the Fatherland," declares the
Kansas City Star. The New York Eve
ming Post believes that ito a certain
extent the battle which has been Waged
about the film has been one in which
the disruptive forces of FaScism were
pitted against the elements which stand
for law and order.'' That paper con-
tinues; In their zeSt for a reawakening
of Germany and more aggressive
stand against what they regard as for
eign oppression they will brook no re-
Election upon the bravery of those Ger
mans who vainly fought to preserve the
empire. Behind the FascistS' Scorn of
the republic and their aggressive de-
mandS for q new regime are economic
conditions of the sort which always
supply fertile ground for radical move
ments. Dr. Einstein is not particularly
known as a political observer, but in
this connection one of his statements
upon his arrival In this country may
well be cited: The minute Germany'S
stomach ceases to be empty he told
the reporters who greeted him on board
his ship, 'Hitlers role viii come to an
end"
American surprise is voiced by the
Indianapolis Star. with the comment:
THE situation seems almost incompre-
hensible to movie fans in the United
States, who seldom become aroused over
the political angles of screen presenta-
tions. Some films have produced caus-
tic criticism on moral or social grounds.
but few have felt like starting riot
because of q screen play" The st.
Louis Post Dispatch Views sthe attacks
on an artists creation" as uffering "a
true appraisal of its WORTH" and con-
tinues: 1.-THE fact that the dazed lads
who struggle through wars miasna in
this film happen to wear the German
uniform is of no Importance in he
broader aspect. The same thing mi INT |
have been done--in fact, similar this |
have been Naone-with this theme L.