Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786300149960
Format: Black & White
ISBN: 630014996X
Label: Nelson Entertainment
Manufacturer: Nelson Entertainment
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Nelson Entertainment
Release Date: 1991-03-28
Running Time: 90
Studio: Nelson Entertainment

Customer Rating:
Summary: All Quiet on the Westfront 1918
Comment: "Westfront 1918" will immediately remind most viewers of "All Quiet on the Western Front". They both tell the story of the German soldier in WWI, the movies both excel in showing the destruction and futility of warfare, and they both were even released in the same year. Everyone familiar with the films of the 1930's knows of "All Quiet on the Western Front" yet how many are aware of "Westfront 1918"? I certainly wasn't yet, surprizingly, I believe that "Westfront 1918" is the better picture. I don't mean to take anything away from "AQOTWF"; it is a cinematic classic. However, the graphics of war are far more impressive in "Westfront" and the impact of war on the homefront is equally superior. There is a scene fairly early in "Westfront" in which soldiers are trapped in their underground dugout during a bombardment. Their desperation as the ceiling begins to collapse above them is impressively staged. Likewise, there is an impressive scene where the main character (Karl) goes home on leave. There is a very poignant and instructive scene with Karl's young wife that tells of the privations and challenges of the homefront. Her pleas at their somber parting say a lot more that the scene with the misguided college professor in "AQOTWF". The camaraderie of the soldiers, their bravery in action, and the apparent pointlessness of the young men's sacrifice all create a powerful film.

If there is a fault to "Westfront 1918", it is the limited cast. Rather than a cast of thousands, "Westfront" gives us a cast of dozens. We're used to the massive numbers of soldiers in the WWI suicidal scenes of "over the top". Rather than seeing divisions attacking, we see squads stealthily sneaking across "No Man's Land". However, maybe the fault lies in me because the director Pabst did so much with so little. "Westfront 1918" is far less Cecil B DeMille and far more Orson Welles.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: The Germans from the German perspective
Comment: This classic WW1 film portrays the Germans at war from the German perspective. It acts as an interesting counterpoint to its contemporary, All Quiet on the Western Front, which portrays the Germans from the point of view of Hollywood.

As many of the participants in the film were veterans of the real war, wearing the original uniforms and showing the original tactics, this film is fascinating from the point of view of a student of the period.

While this is a difficult title to track down, it is well worth the effort if you are interested in seeing a cinematic representation of World War 1 through the eyes of those who actually participated.

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