Lewis Milestone’s anti-war picture All Quiet on the Western Front is widely recognized as his masterpiece and ranks as one of the most compelling dramatizations of soldiers in combat during The Great War.
Adapted from Erich Maria Remarque’s classic 1929 novel, Milestone conveyed cinematically the grim realism and anti-war themes that characterize the literary work.
Universal studio’s head of production Carl Laemmle Jr., purchased the film rights, capitalizing on the international success of Remarque’s book.
“When he was preparing to shoot his wrenching anti-war film from the point of view of German schoolboys who become soldiers, Universal co-founder and president Carl Laemmle pleaded with him for a ‘happy ending.’ Milestone replied, ‘I’ve got your happy ending. We’ll let the Germans win the war.’
All Quiet on the Western Front presents the war from the perspective of a unit of patriotic young German soldiers who become disillusioned at the horrors of trench warfare.
Actor Lew Ayres portrays the naive and sensitive youth Paul Baumer.
In collaboration with screenwriters Maxwell Anderson, Del Andrews and George Abbott, Milestone (uncredited) crafted a scenario and script that “reproduces the terse, tough dialogue” of Remarque’s novel, so as to “expose war for what it is, and not glorify it.”
Originally conceived as a silent film, Milestone filmed both a silent and a talkie version, shooting them together in sequence.
The film’s most outstanding technical innovation is the success to which Milestone integrated the rudimentary sound technology of the early talkies with the advanced visual effects developed during the late silent era.
Applying post-synchronization of the sound recordings, Milestone was at liberty to “shoot the way we’ve always shot…it was that simple. All the tracking shots were done with a silent camera.”
In one of the film’s most disturbing sequences, Milestone uses tracking shots and sound effects to graphically show the devastating effects of artillery and machine guns on advancing troops.
The picture met with critical and popular approval, earning a Best Picture Oscar and a second Best Director award for Milestone.
All Quiet on the Western Front established Milestone as a genuine talent in the film industry. Howard Hughes rewarded him with a prime property for adaption: Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur 1928 play, The Front Page.
