All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), Director: Lewis Milestone, rated Passed

The Human Side of the War as Seen Through the Eyes of Youth!

Starring: Lew Ayres, Louis Wolheim, John Wray, William Bakewell, Arnold Lucy, Ben Alexander, Scott Kolk, Owen Davis Jr.

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"He tells you, 'Go out and die! But if you'll pardon me, it's easier to say 'go out and die' than it is to do it." - Paul Bäumer

Why watch this? WWI was a brutal, horrible war. This shows that nobody wins.

Plot Summary: Inspired by patriotic fervor, a group of young German schoolboys enlists in the army at the outbreak of World War I. They soon find their romantic notions of war shattered by the harsh realities of trench warfare, witnessing death and disillusionment firsthand. The film follows their experiences on the Western Front, emphasizing the dehumanizing effects and futility of the conflict.

Dad's Preview: This is a perfect example of early, almost amateurish, film-making that enhances the film's impact. Made in 1929, a mere 14-years after WWI, the film has a distinctive authenticity regarding this era in history. It is an unapologetic anti-war film. Back then, it was not popular to be anti-war, especially with Hitler gearing up in Europe for what would become the second World War. Here our protagonist is a German soldier who finds out that real war is not what he expected - the war is over-glamorized at home; leadership is incompetent; the only bond a soldier has is with his fellow soldiers. In sum, war is futile. You will forever remember the scene in the bomb crater with the dead Russian soldier.

Universal Studios