Don’t go chasing butterflies!
LEARN YOUR WWI HISTORY AND UNDERSTAND MODERN SOCIETY
This War, this Novel, and now this Film all have a special place in my heart. For those of you who have been living under a rock for your entire lives, World War I was the most significant thing that happened in the 20th Century.
I am afraid that some of you after reading this might be trying to say, “BUT Eleanor, WWII certainly had a larger impact in the way that we live our lives today and specifically the power that America amassed from a Global perspective!” I am sorry friend, but you are wrong. THE WRONGEST OF THE WRONG! There would be no WWII, if there not for WWI. Not just from a numerical stand point, but from a massive ripple effect that this war created. There would not be a modernized, weaponized, or a downtrodden Germany after the Treaty of Versailles forcing the German people into such a messed up economic and political system that a failed Austrian art student was able to convince a nation that he had a way to give Germany the dignity and power that he thought it deserved…. he also had a lot of other ideas and perspectives that are beyond reproach.. but again hopefully you haven’t been living under a rock and are aware of who this is.
All I am trying to say is if you don’t understand WWI, you don’t understand the world you live in. I could go on for hours and hours and cite more and more things… but for brevity sake i will leave it at that. If you ever want to speak on anything WWI related though please seek me out!
THE BOOK
During and after WWI or The Great War, (as it was then known), there was a massive re-calibration of perspectives and thoughts in regards to war meant and looked like to modern world. No longer would the Calvary make a difference, no longer were countries concerned about the colors and accessories of your military uniform, no longer were swords and bayonets just as important as guns, no longer was artillery your only enemy no you had to worry about chemical warfare from poisonous gas. Modern warfare is not pretty, it is ugly, muddy, bloody, ruthless, endless, and no longer the glory ridden stories of old. The art, poetry, and novels that were created from people who fought or were affected by this war showed the horror and blood of this terrible event. “All Quiet on the Western Front” was written by Erich Maria Remarque in 1929 in Germany, telling the story of a bunch of young German youths, who drop out of college to join the army with much vigor! After joining their enthusiasm is quickly dashed, there idea and expectations for war quickly change as they are surrounded by death and decay. Their disillusionment to the world around them makes the horror of the Western Front their new home.
Although this book is written about from a German perspective it is a great narrative of all the soldiers who were fighting on the Western Front, no matter what side they were on. This book was banned and burned in Nazi Germany after it was written, Joseph Goebbels the Minister of Propaganda found it to be Anti-German and Anti-war. Yet, it sold 2.5 million copies in 22 languages in its first 18 months in print. The book was written in 1929 and the film was made in 1930! I read this book for the first time on my study abroad opportunity where I got to go on a World War I Tour in Europe and walk through all a lot of the Battle sites on the Western Front notable the Somme and Verdun and well as take a History and Literature class about this important event.
THE FILM
This Film was the third ever Best Picture Winner! It was also the first TALKING MOVIE TO WIN BEST PICTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although “The Jazz Singer” was the first talking movie picture ever in 1927, this film was the first talking film to win the Oscar. Talkies were new and exciting… but there was certainly a learning curb for actors to transition from there silent, over-expressive selves, to real talking normal humans on a screen… to watch this transition I recommend watching one of my favorite films of all time “Singing In the Rain”… or just this clip that shows directors trying to get sound from actors not used to microphones!
What I am trying to say is that is makes sense that this film was not nominated for any Acting Awards. The lead character Paul was played by Lew Aryes, and his performance and the other actors, made it clear they had not figured out the the naturalism that is necessary for acting on film with sound to a perfect degree. They were good, but not great.
WHAT WAS GREAT was the screenplay adaptation from the novel and the AMAZING Direction by Lewis Milestone and the Cinematography by Arthur Edeson. This is hands down one of the best war films that I have ever seen… and I really like war movies so I do think that is saying something. You can tell by the sparse light and quick motions that Milestone is giving the perspective from the solider, you don’t get the whole picture of the battle or the war because no one on the front got to see the whole picture, you are stuck in the rat-filled trenches with the solders. It is bloody and the explosions are fantastic! I saw a lot of the influence that Steven Spielberg took from Milestone in his filming of “Saving Private Ryan”. This movie was made “pre-code” which means that it is most likely a much darker and more gory film, than if it had been made three years later when films where really starting to be scrutinized in 1934 by the Hayes Code. I mean this photo gives you a good chance to see the bleakness they showed in this 1930 film!
WHAT IT WON
“All Quiet on the Western Front” was nominated for four Oscars, but only won two… the two it won were pretty great though
- Best Picture
- Best Director- Lewis Milestone
Best Writing and Best Cinematography also were nominated and rightfully so!
GOOD QUOTES!
Albert Kropp: [speaking of school] They never taught us really useful like how to light a cigarette in the wind, or make a fire out of wet wood, or bayonet a man in the belly instead of the ribs where it gets jammed.
and
Katczinsky: I’ll tell you how it should all be done.
[spits]
Katczinsky: Whenever there’s a big war comin’ on, you should rope off a big field…
Cigar-smoking soldier: And sell tickets.
Katczinsky: Yeah. And –
[glares at interrupter]
Katczinsky: And on the big day, you should take all the kings and their cabinets and their generals, put ’em in the center dressed in their underpants, and let ’em fight it out with clubs. The best country wins.
[everybody murmurs in agreement]
and
Title card: This story is neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped its shells, were destroyed by the war…
and
Albert Kropp: Ah, the French certainly deserve to be punished for starting this war.
Detering: Everybody says it’s somebody else.
Tjaden: Well. how do they start a war?
Albert Kropp: Well, one country offends another.
Tjaden: How could one country offend another?
Tjaden: You mean there’s a mountain over in Germany gets mad at a field over in France?
Can you think of any other films that might have been influenced by this one? What are your favorite WWI films? Please tell me in the comment box below!
eleanor filmsby 