Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Paul’s laconic manner of depicting the carnage he experiences serves as a method of distancing himself from the horrors. Paul becomes the last of his seven classmates. This is an English language film (made in America) adapted from a novel by German author Erich Maria Remarque. Search for "All Quiet on the Western Front" on Amazon.com, Title: Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Two young men, one rich, one middle class, who are in love with the same woman, become fighter pilots in World War I. Kemmerich, one of Paul’s classmates, has suffered a wound in his thigh that resulted in amputation, and some of the soldiers go to visit him in St. Joseph’s hospital. A pair of sisters from the vaudeville circuit try to make it big time on Broadway, but matters of the heart complicate the attempt. This notion of a gulf between those who declare war and those who fight it is present throughout All Quiet on the Western Front, but the gulf between those fighting on opposing sides shrinks as the novel progresses. Check out our favorite stills from shows you can stream now on Paramount +. Remarque wrote a sequel to All Quiet on the Western Front called Der Weg zurück (The Road Back), which was published in 1931 and also later banned by the Nazi Party. The message is hidden in the words of a young Paul and his comrades.Lew Ayres as Paul Baumer is excellent. The theme dehumanization can be seen in different types of forms for example novel, poetry, art, etc. Director Milestone has certainly been affected by silent film. Instant downloads of all 1415 LitChart PDFs (including All Quiet on the Western Front). The movie was subsequently banned. It was directed by Lewis Milestone, and stars Louis … The novel’s disclaimer insists that it is not an accusation, yet the entirety of the novel accuses war as an institution of stealing young boys’ lives, regardless of whether they died on the battlefield or survived forever changed. Paul and his fellow students enlisted in the war because of their previous schoolmaster, Mr. Kantorek, who had spouted patriotic propaganda at them when they were students, imploring them to enlist. As Paul himself explains, however, becoming … The record of several schoolmates who represent a generation destroyed by the dehumanization of World War I's trench warfare, All Quiet on the Western Front tells of their enlistment in the army at the urging … Kat, Paul explains, has always been uncannily resourceful. Bert And Bertie To Direct ‘Queen Bitch & The High Horse’ For New Republic Pictures & Cate Blanchett’s Dirty Films, Netflix Snaps Up Big-Budget ‘All Quiet on The Western Front’ Adaptation (Exclusive), Elton John Announces Massive Career-Spanning Box Set ‘Elton: Jewel Box’, Best Black & White Best Picture Oscar Nominee, Michele Wilkinson, University of Cambridge Language Centre, . Poison gas and shells infiltrate the group. The trenches are bombarded a number of times as the novel continues, until finally the soldiers are sent off-duty to take a break while they await reinforcements. All Quiet on the Western Front was one of the many books burned by the Nazi Party after Hitler took power, because of its representation of German soldiers as disillusioned and its perceived negative representation of Germany. Wails of wounded horses pierce the silence between explosions, and the gory sight of their injuries unsettles everybody deeply. One of Paul’s classmates who serves with Paul in the Second Company. It was released in book form the following year to smashing success, selling a million and a half copies that same year. Novelist who is chiefly remembered as the author of Im Westen nichts Neues (1929; All Quiet on the Western Front), which became perhaps the best-known and most representative novel dealing with … All Quiet on the Western Front, novel by German writer Erich Maria Remarque, published in 1929 as Im Westen nichts Neues and in the United States as All Quiet on the Western Front. He feels disconnected from people he once felt close to, and he cannot understand the things that occupy their minds. Paul then learns that he has been granted 17 days of leave. The novel opens with the group having just been relieved from their position on the front lines. Biography. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. It won great praise in the United … No, it is merely the rulers. After the Kaiser leaves, Paul becomes lost at night during battle and, while hiding in a shell hole during a bombardment, stabs a French soldier who falls in. The rise and fall of a corrupt politician, who makes his friends richer and retains power by dint of a populist appeal. I think it's only because of that conveyed the horror of the battlefield on the face of the main character. All Quiet on the Western Front also addresses the disillusionment of the public, specifically that of German citizens. All Quiet on the Western Front Translated from the German by A. W. WHEEN FAWCETT CREST This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an … The film follows a group of German schoolboys, talked into enlisting at the beginning of World War 1 by their jingoistic teacher. This is highlighted in the scene where Paul mortally wounds a French soldier and then weeps bitterly as he fights to save his life while trapped in a shell crater with the body. As the boys witness death and mutilation all around them, any preconceptions about "the enemy" and the "rights and wrongs" of the conflict disappear, leaving them angry and bewildered. I generally do not re-read books, but after listening to podcasts and … Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front offers readers a fictional yet accurate account of the life of a common soldier in the trenches during final two years of the First … An antiwar novel set … Although publishers had worried that interest in the Great War had waned more than 10 years after the armistice, Remarques realistic depiction of trench warfare from the perspective of young soldiers struck a chord with the wars survivorssoldiers and civilia… The story is told entirely through the experiences of the young German recruits and highlights the tragedy of war through the eyes of individuals. After a difficult conversation with his own mother, Paul wishes he had never come on leave, believing that he has changed far too much to live as he once did. Across from the base is a camp for Russian prisoners; Paul witnesses and ruminates on how similar his enemies look to his neighbours. …almost all of us are simple folk. An intelligent, … Directed by Lewis Milestone. The project … When Paul returns, he, Kat, and six others are sent to guard a village, where they find lots of food to eat. With Richard Thomas, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Ian Holm. It was a print published in 1958. The harsh reality of the Western Front is all what we need to see. The book was an immediate international success, though it had many critics. As Paul says, "We will make ourselves comfortable and sleep, and eat … While bathing in a canal, Paul and some of his friends encounter three French girls, who they sneak out at night to meet. Erich Maria Remarque, born Erich Paul Remark, was a German novelist who created many works about the terror of war. All Quiet on the Western Front is a television film produced by ITC Entertainment, released on November 14, 1979, starring Richard Thomas and Ernest Borgnine. RKO-Pathé Studios - 9336 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA. A German youth eagerly enters World War I, but his enthusiasm wanes as he gets a firsthand view of the … He waits in the hole with the dead man for hours upon hours, until he feels it is safe enough to return to his regiment’s trench. Add the first question. A German youth eagerly enters World War I, but his enthusiasm wanes as he gets a firsthand view of the horror. Omissions? When the man dies, Paul is delusional with shame. Was this review helpful to you? Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Both sides are made flesh - one a sophisticated woman he is attracted to and the other his wife. AP Netflix is believed to have swooped for world rights to Edward Berger’s long-anticipated adaptation of “ All Quiet on the Western Front,” starring Daniel Brühl (pictured). Albert Kropp. https://www.britannica.com/topic/All-Quiet-on-the-Western-Front-novel, 1914-1918 Online - International Encyclopedia of the First Wolrd War - "All Quiet on the Western Front". Netflix’s All Quiet on the Western front is an adaptation of the classic World War I novel of the same name by German veteran infantryman and famous author Erich Maria Remarque. Not everything is about Paul, but through his character we can understand the essence.Louis Wolheim as Stanislaus Katczinsky is mentor of young soldiers, and his performances are full of humanity and humor.In the conditions of trench warfare, man is exposed to the horror that it destroys the mind and body. All Quiet on the Western Front Translated from the German by A. W. WHEEN FAWCETT CREST This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an … (1) 1 product ratings - All Quiet on the Western Front Erich Maria Remarque 1929 Hardcover DJ 1st ed. The biopic of the famous French muckraking writer and his involvement in fighting the injustice of the Dreyfuss Affair. In the end they became soldiers and nothing more than that.The film is extremely powerful, emotional and perhaps too realistic. The novel then shifts away from Paul’s first-person perspective and ends with an announcement that Paul has died. The young men soon learn that the romanticized version of war that was described to them is nothing like the battlefields they encounter. Looking for something new to add to your Watchlist? Paul’s friends begin to die one by one. In its first year it sold more than one million copies in Germany, and yet many Germans were furious with the novel, claiming that Remarque’s protagonist was too limited in perspective and that the novel promoted pacifism naively. They quickly realize that Kemmerich will die there, and Müller, another of the soldiers, asks Kemmerich for his boots, a moment that is discomforting but irreproachably logical. Kat is hit while searching for food, and, afraid that he doesn’t have time to wait, Paul carries him to the dressing station. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. It is based on the book of the same name by … Its title, which is in the language of routine communiqués, is typical of its nonchalant terse style, which graphically records the daily horrors of war in laconic understatement. All Quiet on the Western Front tells the story of a group of young Germans who enlist in World War I after being captivated by slogans of patriotism and honour. Read our editors' picks for the movies and shows we're watching in March, including "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," Boss Level, and Zack Snyder's Justice League. Drama, Certificate: Passed Paul visits Kemmerich again, alone, and during this visit Kemmerich dies; Paul calls out for help, and a doctor refers him to an orderly. All Quiet on the Western Front is an invaluable source for the historical record as it allows the reader access to a perspective on the war which previously could not be experienced. When they arrive, however, Kat has already died. When the fighting finally stops, the carnage is gruesome. The story is told entirely through the experiences of the young German recruits and highlights the tragedy of war through the eyes of individuals. The film is not about heroism but about drudgery and futility and the gulf between the concept of war and the actuality. She received her bachelor’s degree in philosophy and creative writing in 2020 at the University of Iowa. An allegorical tale about a man fighting the good and evil within him. With its popularity came similar concerns in Britain and the United States about it being pacifist propaganda, though reactions were less violent than in Germany. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Start studying All Quiet on the Western Front. Readers of All Quiet on the Western Front often find Paul’s calm, neutral attitude towards his experiences almost as disturbing as the carnage he describes. The army report issued on the day of his death stated only this: All quiet on the Western Front. A young soldier faces profound disillusionment in the soul-destroying horror of World War I. I had never seen a Frenchman before I came here, and it will be just the same with the majority of Frenchmen as regards us. The "iron youth" is the manner through which the war is presented to young people in Germany. A young soldier faces profound disillusionment in the soul-destroying horror of World War I. Michele Wilkinson, University of Cambridge Language Centre, . (1930). As much as I am shocked scattered body parts during the fight, which is certainly controversial in that period, I was more shocked by the mental state of the characters. While the book was All Quiet on the Western Front, it isn’t a 1st US edition as advertised. I read "AQOTWF" in 8th grade and remember liking the book. Paul and his friends, hungry and tired, are delighted when their friend Katczinsky (“Kat”) returns after a search for food with two loaves of bread and a bag of raw horsemeat. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The political impact of All Quiet on the Western Front was significant around the world but especially in Germany within the Nazi Party. All Quiet on the Western Front was both an overwhelming success and the target of intense criticism. First mate Fletcher Christian leads a revolt against his sadistic commander, Captain Bligh, in this classic seafaring adventure, based on the real-life 1788 mutiny. The front provides a sharp contrast with the home that Paul later visits. And in France, too, the majority of men are labourers, workmen, or poor clerks. All Quiet on the Western Front works both as a vehicle for overwhelmingly realistic and graphic depictions of war and as a mode of underscoring the disillusionment of the period. This is highlighted in the scene where Paul mortally wounds a French soldier and then weeps bitterly as he fights to save his life while trapped in a shell crater with the body. The book is an account of Paul Baumer’s experiences in battle and his short career as a soldier, and it is primarily concerned with the effect of war on young men. After spending some time relieved from the front line, their regiment is called up once again. He finds a picture of the man’s wife and child in his breast pocket along with letters. This wasn’t as advertised and I’m more upset I paid so much for something that … A film about the horrors and suffering in the First World War. During the evacuation, however, the French bombard the town, and Paul and his friend Albert Kropp are injured. This article was adapted from German. Directed by Delbert Mann. Remarque … It is narrated by the protagonist, Paul Baumer, who is 20 years old. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. There is an interesting story from the perspective of German soldiers told in English.The motive, which draws young people on the battlefield is not strong, but it is not questionable. Soon after, an attack is launched, and chaos ensues. All of the important quotes from “All Quiet on the Western Front” listed here correspond, at least in some way, to the paper topics above and by themselves can give you great ideas for an essay by offering … When they awake, they hear sounds of an impending attack. An antiwar novel set during World War I, it relies on Remarque’s personal experience in the war to depict the era’s broader disillusionment. English-speaking critics shared some of the opinions of their German counterparts, especially that the novel’s nonchalant tone was, at times, monotonous and flat. For example, when engaged in one of these conversations, one of the soldiers says. His best known novel is All Quiet on the Western Front (1928) which … Use the HTML below. The boys continue to struggle even though their confidence shaken well. Others claimed that Remarque’s laconic style was too dull and that the novel had little literary value outside of its initial shock. World War I is described in such vivid non-glory in its … The novel’s unflinching realism places All Quiet on the Western Front among the most accurate written depictions of World War I, but its philosophical sentiments are applicable to any war. Certificate: Passed The film is not about heroism but about drudgery and futility and the gulf between the concept of war and the actuality. Adventure, Certificate: Passed The film follows a group of German schoolboys, talked into enlisting at the beginning of World War 1 by their jingoistic teacher. All Quiet on the Western Front, American war film, released in 1930 and set during World War I, that is regarded as one of the most effective antiwar movies ever made. Updates? Remarque tied his individual experience to something much larger and more abstract: the novel, while focusing specifically on the German-French conflict in World War I, expresses sentiments about the contemporary nature of war itself. Paul begins to see his enemies as people rather than faceless targets, a transformation that culminates in an intensely intimate scene of delusional guilt as he watches a French soldier die slowly from a wound he inflicted. This FAQ is empty. Remarque used his personal experience as a German soldier to write All Quiet on the Western Front. When it was shown in Germany, Nazi Party members used the movie as an excuse to violently attack moviegoers, particularly those believed to be of Jewish descent. Now just why would a French blacksmith or a French shoemaker want to attack us? Albert’s leg is amputated. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. Youthful enthusiasm and patriotism are not desirable traits.Horror followed by constant suffering on the Western Front is enough at the moment of breaking down every war motive. LitCharts Teacher Editions. All Quiet on the Western Front, novel by German writer Erich Maria Remarque, published in 1929 as Im Westen nichts Neues and in the United States as All Quiet on the Western Front. All Quiet on the Western Front was eventually translated into about 50 languages, and it continues to provoke polarized reactions.