Probably the original anti-war film, showing the horrors of war that have been thrust upon the enthusiastic and some might say brainwashed youth. The original book was written by Erich Maria Remarque who was German so the film has kept the fact that they are German troops but they all speak English throughout the film. This was a little confusing when the Allied armies attacked as you instinctively think we are watching the British troops due to their language but this was overcome after a while.
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It follows a group of classmates who are convinced to go to fight in the Great War for the Fatherland by their teacher who talks of the honour that it brings. The students are quickly riled and all want to sign up so instantly tear their books up and begin to sing as they prepare to go to war. It is an all too familiar story for the people who lived through the wars and the propaganda that came with it for young men, many under the age of 18, to go and fight. For a film made in 1930 and a full 9 years before the Second World War even began it was well ahead of its time in its portrayal of war which naturally lead to its ban in Nazi Germany as well as Italy, Austria and France. The League of Nations that was in effect at the time spent a lot of money having the film distributed in many languages to try and eradicate any possibly future wars.
But looking back on a film like this today, especially considering the huge number of anti-war films that came out in the wake of the Vietnam War, this is the original film and I don't think any of the films that preceded it would have been the same without it. It shows the everyday threat of death or maiming when either side launches an attack over the trenches and pushes it home in a very personal way, you quickly realise just how young some of the soldiers are. One very poignant scene is when Paul Baumer (Lew Ayres) is caught behind enemy lines and has numerous Allied soldiers jumping over the hole that he is trapped in; he then grabs one of the soldiers and stabs him with his knife. The following hours show the slow and painful death of the Allied soldier and the remorse shown by Baumer who realises that regardless of uniforms and nation, everybody is the same and tries to make amends but it is too late.
In parts the acting is a bit over the top and fake but that is mainly just a product of the time, especially considering the film was released at the end of the silent movie era (watch The Artist for details on that). This did make it hard to connect with some of the characters within the film but doesn't stop you appreciating what the group went through. The constant bombardment by shells and mortars drives you crazy, and means little rest as the men suffer for days on end. Louis Wolheim plays Stanislaus Katczinsky who is an experienced soldier who quickly introduces the men to the tough life on the front line as well as the lack of glory and honour in it. In a certain way though he cares about the men he has under his wing despite never showing it publicly.
3/4 for being the landmark in anti-war films but slightly excessive and over-acted in parts (was made 82 years ago though)
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