The Netflix movie of “All Quiet on the Western Front” was wll worth seeing, but it will not be one of my repeat movies.
It won’t be because most of it is in German with English subtitles (but with no English subtitles when the French are talking).
I read the book (with dictionary in hand) in German class, but I don’t remember the level of rightly-labeled “R” violence in the book.
The memory I shall retain is the callous patrotism of the German General after the Armistice had been signed between Germany and France.
The soldiers knew the war was ending.
They celebrated the night before.
Then came the morning of November 11th.
Before the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year., the German General (said in the movie to have been Germany’s leader who handed the country over to Hitler), who opposed ending the war, sent new recruits and those veterans who had survived into battle.
The last fifteen minutes of the movie certainly mark this as a splendid anti-war movie.
In 1954, the day of honor was re-named “Veterans Day” by President Dwight Eisenhower.
In 1968, our Congressman Robert C. McClory, sponsored a bill to make it and Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Washington’s Birthday and Comumbus Day three-day holidays
Why?
It was at the behest of the recreation industry.
There was widespread dissent concerning the date change for the November holiday and in 1975 President Gerry Ford sign a law to move it back to November 11th.
Armistice Day, (and it should always be addressed as such, for that it is what it is) is one of the few holidays that still actually falls on the day as intended. As it should be w/ most (if not all) holidays.
All Quiet on the Western Front (1929) was originally intended as a silent film, by the time production was near completion, sound had arrived, and so was literally remade as a talking picture.
The silent version is available on DVD and is more faithful to the novel.
Either version is highly recommended.
For those of you who may be interested in actual documentary concerning First World War, the highly acclaimed CBS News version (1964-65) is recommended.
Not sure if still available on DVD, though it’s possible it may be found on any of the online digital platforms.
Other films concerning First World War that may be of interest:
The Big Parade (1925)
Wings (1927)
Hell’s Angels (1930)
The Dawn Patrol (1938)
There are many others to pick and choose from.
Most will provide at least some perspective on the conflict.
Cal needs a lesson in history again.
The Anericans, not Germans were the rats.
https://www.historynet.com/wasted-lives-on-armistice-day/