All Quiet On The Western Front (1930) Universal Pictures Corporation Director: Lewis Milestone Producer: Carl Laemmle Jr. Cast: Louis Wolheim, Lew Ayres, John Wray, Arnold Lucy, Ben Alexander. Awards ceremony: -3rd Academy Awards: November 5, 1930. Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California. Other films nominated for Outstanding Production this year: -The Big House. -Disraeli. -The Divorcee. -The Love Parade. Plot summary: In 1917, an enthusiastc and patriotic group of young men sign up to be soldiers during the World War. They quickly discover that the rosy life they thought it would be for them turns out to be a nightmare experience when the reality of battle hits them hard. Standout scene: Paul Bäumer (LEWIS AYRES) trying to explain and reason with the German soldier (RAYMOND GRIFFTH) he has mortally wounded during one of the battle scenes. Paul is full of remorse for killing the rival soldier and asks for forgiveness. It's one of the most moving scenes in the film. Facts: -The 3rd Academy Awards. -Lewis Milestone won the Academy Award for Best Director for this film. Personal opinion: A blend of stark reality and questionable casting! American actors, speaking English and playing German soldiers? Loud and visually spectacular battle scenes with tremendous editing and prolonged intensity for realism. The battle scenes are well shot and directed although some of the footage looks a bit primitive. There are some stand-out scenes, such as the battle in the trenches, which includes a graphic shot of a soldier being blown up as he clings to a string of barbed wire, leaving only his severed hands attached. The scenes in the underground bunker are also noteworthy. Very good directing and cinematography add to the atmosphere and reality of the whole thing. An important film from an important era and deserves its place in cinematic history. See it at least once - and if you manage to get your hands on the restored copy of the film on Blu-Ray from Universal then it is a really good watch. Highly recommended. Did it deserve the Oscar? DEFINITELY. 8/10

Review date: 04 February 2025