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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
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Theatrical Release: April 21st, 1930
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
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 |
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| Distribution |
Universal Region 1 - NTSC |
Universal (Cinema Classics) Region 1 - NTSC |
| Runtime | 2:11:08 | 2:13:28 |
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Video |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Bitrate : Universal (original release) |
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| Bitrate: Universal (Cinema Classics) |
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| 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:
Edition Details: • trailer
• 'text cast and filmmaker pages Chapters 14 |
Release Information: Studio: Universal (Cinema Classics) Aspect Ratio: Edition
Details:
DVD
Release Date: February 6th, 2007 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! |
DVD Menus
(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs.
Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)
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The original DVD film presentation starts with the Film Censors certification, but the Cinema Classics does not
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Screen Captures
(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) -
Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
Subtitle Sample: Not exact frame
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(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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Report Card:
|
Image: |
Universal Cinema Classics |
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Sound: |
Universal Cinema Classics |
| Extras: | Universal Cinema Classics |
| Menu: | Universal Cinema Classics |
NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Universal
Region
1 - NTSC
Universal (Cinema Classics)
Region
1 - NTSC
DVD Box Cover

Distribution
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