All Quiet on the Western Front

directed by Lewis Milestone
USA 1930

Set during WWI and told from the German point of view, the story centers on Paul Baumer (Lew Ayres). A sensitive youth, Baumer is recruited by a war-mongering professor (Arnold Lucy) advocating "glory for the Fatherland." Paul and his friends enlist and are trained by Himmelstoss (John Wray), a kindly postmaster turned brutal corporal, then sent to the front lines to taste battle, blood, and death. Paul comes under the protective wing of an old veteran, Katczinsky (Louis Wolheim), who teaches him how to survive the horrors of war.

The film is emotionally draining, and so realistic that it will be forever etched in the mind of any viewer. Milestone's direction is frequently inspired, most notably during the battle scenes. In one such scene, the camera serves as a kind of machine gun, shooting down the oncoming troops as it glides along the trenches. Universal spared no expense during production, converting more than 20 acres of a large California ranch into battlefields occupied by more than 2,000 ex-servicemen extras. After its initial release, some foreign countries refused to run the film. Poland banned it for being pro-German, while the Nazis labeled it anti-German. Joseph Goebbels, later propaganda minister, publicly denounced the film.

Excerpt from TV Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: April 21st, 1930

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DVD Comparison:

Universal - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC

(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover	NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Distribution	Universal Region 1 - NTSC	Universal (Cinema Classics) Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	2:11:08	2:13:28
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.34 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.41 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate : Universal (original release)
Bitrate: Universal (Cinema Classics)
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
Subtitles	English, French, Spanish, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Universal Aspect Ratio: Full screen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • production notes • trailer • 'text cast and filmmaker pages DVD Release Date: 1999 Keep case Chapters 14	Release Information: Studio: Universal (Cinema Classics) Aspect Ratio: Full screen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Robert Osborne introduction • Trailer DVD Release Date: February 6th, 2007 Keep Case Chapters 14

Comments:

Wow - this is quite an incredible difference. It is a marvelous triumph - a wonderful surprise. The Cinema Classics edition is vastly improved over the original Universal release. Extensively sharper, better contrast etc. The image is like night and day. I can't add much that simply viewing the screen captures below. I also suspect that audio sounds clearer to my crusty ears - it is better than I remember hearing ever before.

I can't speculate on why the newer release is 2 minutes longer, but it is obviously a better/restored print (restored version: Library of Congress). The old starts with the British censors certification (see below) where the new does not. The old single-layered DVD gave us a trailer and some production notes and bio text screens - where the new has a 2 minute Robert Osborne intro and a trailer.

This film, a bit heavy-handed, is a must-own and a totally unforgettable film experience. The new Cinema Classics DVD is ridiculously reasonable at the price it is being offered. STRONGLY recommended!

- Gary Tooze

DVD Menus

(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)

The original DVD film presentation starts with the Film Censors certification, but the Cinema Classics does not

Screen Captures

(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
Subtitle Sample: Not exact frame