Film of the Day: 61

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Franz Ferdinand was the Archduke of Austria-Este and Royal Prince of Hungary and of Bohemia, and from 1889, he was due to inherit the Austro-Hungarian throne and was one of the richest men in Austria.

But in 1914, he was assassinated in Sarajevo, thus the central powers (Austro-Hungarian Empire, German Empire, Ottoman Empire, Kingdom of Bulgaria) declared war on the Triple Entente (Britain, Russia and France) and World War I began.

The war lasted four years and in those four years many other countries joined in to help the triple entente such as Italy, America, Japan, Belgium, Greece, Canada and many others. It was an ugly war a many perished in the horrible trenches. Many also died of mustard gas which was first used by the German army against the British and then the French.

Then on November 11th 1918, the war ended and the Germany,  Austria–Hungary and Ottoman Empires were finished. They lost a lot of territory and the map of europe was forever. Germany was then faced with the fact that they had lost the war and were having problems with the Treaty of Versailles, thus party why Germany again went to war in 1939.

One of the best films ever made about the Great War was the anti-war film classic All Quiet on the Western Front. It was also filmed from the eyes of Germany and is one of the most realistic and haunting war films I have ever had the pleasure of watching. It is probably the first war film ever made that truly shows the horrors of war and its repercussions.

It starts in a school in Germany where an instructor is giving a passionate speech on the glory and honour of serving in the army and fighting for the motherland. The young men are moved and join the army, but soon learn that there is nothing to be glorified here. It is an ugly war and they are terrified and starving in the trenches.

There were a number of German Army veterans who were recruited as technical advisers and bit players as many were living in Los Angeles, one being Fred Zinnemann (legendary future film director) but was fired for impudence.

The film went on to win two Oscars, both best director for Lewis Milestone and best picture. Upon it's re-release in 1939 by Universal, the aim being to remind people of the horrors of war and contained anti-Nazi announcements. It was also made again in 1979 for television and is unfortunately being remade again next year for some reason.

To me, this is where the anti-war films started, it is not only one of the best films about World War I (along with Paths of Glory and Grand Illusion) but is one of the greatest and most honestly made war films and is a true reminder about the horror of war.

Click here for the trailer