U.S.
Length: 131 minutes
Director: Lewis Milestone
Cast: Louis Wolheim, Lew Ayers, John Wray, Arnold Lucy, Ben Alexander, Scott Kolk, Owen Davis Jr., Walter Rogers, William Bakewell, Russell Gleason, Richard Alexander, Harold Goodwin, Beryl Mercer
Eric's Impressions: For all whom have ever questioned why we ever go to war, this is the movie to watch. Much like the Bob Dylan anti-war classic, "Master of War," this is a timeless creation that can relate to every war ever fought and every one that has yet to take place. It's not surprising to find out that director Lewis Milestone was a war veteran himself. It gives the film an authenticity much like Oliver Stone did with his Vietnam War tales ("Platoon" and "Born on the Fourth of July." If you're thinking about joining the military, please check this one out. Nothing is more heart-wrenching than seeing the mother of a soldier not even able to identify her own son following battle.
Natalie's Impressions: For me, one of the most tragic moments in the film is at the very beginning when the boys' teacher gives them a motivational speech about joining the army and then peer pressure exerts its force on each classmate, one after the other, as they stand up and start singing joyfully about what they are about to experience. This scene captures Remarque's sense of impending doom perfectly. This film is a rare complement to the film adaptation genre. There are so many talking points for this film. I could go on and on about the innovative technology at the dawn of sound films, the powerful message of the film so soon after WWI and right before WWII, the ironic turn of Ayer's career after making the film, the incredibly fact that German censors passed the film when it came out, even in the face of fierce Nazi opposition, and the many other tragic scenes in the film that point to the futility of war.
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