There are moments when this re-make of Erich Maria Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front" evokes the original movie masterpiece, and there are certain images which are up to the level of the (then) nearly 50 year old classic. For example, this version's early battle scenes and its sequence involving rats are nicely staged. The sound, especially the "mosquito" gunfire, also recalls director Lewis Milestone's 1930 film, which was much admired for its use of sound (something new in motion pictures, at the time). But, this award-winning "Hallmark Hall of Fame" production falls far short of the original film, which you really should see first. Also, the earlier film had an extraordinary ending, which this version alters.
War-bound Richard Thomas (from "The Waltons") plays the sensitive German teenager "Paul Baumer" without accent; he is particularly incongruous in scenes with heavily-accented instructor Donald Pleasence (as Kantorek). His six war buddies do, like Mr. Thomas, grow on you. Co-star Ernest Borgnine (as Stanislaus Katczinsky) always strengthens a cast; herein, however, Mr. Borgnine is miscast. It is strange to watch Thomas (and stand-in) carrying Borgnine's weight during the last act. Superior officer Ian Holm inexplicably stomps Thomas' feet, and Patricia Neal appears briefly. David "Dai" Bradley (as Albert Kropp), best remembered for playing "Kes" (1970), is notable in one of the good, but lesser, buddy roles.
***** All Quiet on the Western Front (11/14/79) Delbert Mann ~ Richard Thomas, Ernest Borgnine, Ian Holm, David Bradley
War-bound Richard Thomas (from "The Waltons") plays the sensitive German teenager "Paul Baumer" without accent; he is particularly incongruous in scenes with heavily-accented instructor Donald Pleasence (as Kantorek). His six war buddies do, like Mr. Thomas, grow on you. Co-star Ernest Borgnine (as Stanislaus Katczinsky) always strengthens a cast; herein, however, Mr. Borgnine is miscast. It is strange to watch Thomas (and stand-in) carrying Borgnine's weight during the last act. Superior officer Ian Holm inexplicably stomps Thomas' feet, and Patricia Neal appears briefly. David "Dai" Bradley (as Albert Kropp), best remembered for playing "Kes" (1970), is notable in one of the good, but lesser, buddy roles.
***** All Quiet on the Western Front (11/14/79) Delbert Mann ~ Richard Thomas, Ernest Borgnine, Ian Holm, David Bradley