All Quiet on the Western Front (1979) (TV)

Director:

Delbert Mann

Writers:

Paul Monash (screenplay)
Erich Maria Remarque (novel)

Release Date:

14 November 1979 (USA)

Genre:

War | Drama

Tagline:

They left for war as Boys, never to return as men.

Plot:

A young soldier faces profound disillusionment in the soul-destroying horror of World War I.

Plot Keywords:

Farmhouse | Nun | France | Germany | German Army

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Richard Thomas	...	Paul Baumer
Ernest Borgnine	...	Stanislaus Katczinsky
Donald Pleasence	...	Kantorek
Ian Holm	...	Himmelstoss
Patricia Neal	...	Paul's Mother
Paul Mark Elliott	...	Behm (as Mark Elliott)
David Bradley	...	Kropp (as Dai Bradley)
George Winter	...	Kemmerich
Dominic Jephcott	...	Leer
Mark Drewry	...	Tjaden
Colin Mayes	...	Westhaus
Ewan Stewart	...	Detering
Michael Sheard	...	Paul's Father
Katerina Lirova	...	Paul's Sister
Mary Miller	...	Frau Kemmerich

Runtime:

USA:131 min (DVD) | UK:123 min | Netherlands:150 min | USA:150 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Czech Republic

Company:

Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions

Trivia:

In the scene of Kaiser Wilhelm pinning medals on the soldiers, the Kaiser uses only his right arm and hand, while an aide holds the soldiers' tunics - a nice historically accurate detail, since the real Kaiser Wilhelm had a stunted and withered left arm that was virtually useless.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: All of the German infantry men use "Y-strap" leather equipment suspenders, which are a 1930s-40s German World War II infantryman's item.

Quotes:

Muller: Himmelstoss...there's a latrine down the road. Why don't you go take a jump?

Movie Connections:

Version of All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Excellent remake of the Lewis Milestone classic

It is difficult to go wrong with such a magnificent story, one of the most affecting literary anatomisations of the tragedy of young men destroyed by war. And yet, this 1979 television remake of the Lewis Milestone original adds many elements to cherish of its own. Most notably, the casting of Richard Thomas, best known for being John-Boy Walton, in the role of Richard Baume. His characterisation is wonderfully profound, and poignant, and the scene in the trench with the French soldier is a virtual masterclass of compassionate acting. Thomas has never become a superstar; and for this reason he is one of an evergrowing army of neglected romantic leading men. The battle scenes are breathlessly exciting; and yet they do not dwell on carnage, and it is to their credit...and yet still they elicit pity and horror from the viewer. The music is magnificent, the structure craftmanlike, the acting (by Thomas, Borgnine, Holm) superlative, and the work itself suffused through with compassion.......