Discuss All Quiet on the Western Front

With World War II movies seemingly two-a-penny, there are comparatively fewer great films about the earlier conflict. I haven't seen the (supposedly) greatest silent film about the period, The Big Parade - I'm looking for a good copy of that, in fact - but here are my favourite WW1 films as of now. Please share your favourites - always looking for recommendations!

Chronologically..

  • Wings (1927)
  • All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
  • A Farewell to Arms (1932)
  • The Grand Illusion (1937)
  • The Dawn Patrol (1938)
  • Paths of Glory (1957)
  • Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
  • King & Country (1964)
  • Johnny Got HIs Gun (1971)
  • Gallipoli (1981)

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Old movies set during WWI have always been something I've felt very drawn to, WWI being a prime era of tremendous interest to me. I've long been especially drawn to WWI-set movies of the Silent and early-to-mid '30s period, as those feel so truly closely connected to the war period and the mindset thereof.

WWI-set movies (listed by years) I can think of, that I know I'm a fan of:

  • The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)
  • The Big Parade (1925)
  • Wings (1927)
  • All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
  • Hells Angels (1930)
  • The Dawn Patrol (1930)
  • Waterloo Bridge (1931) [is set during WWI, but isn't much actually about it]
  • A Farewell to Arms (1932)
  • The Eagle and the Hawk (1933)
  • Heroes For Sale (1933) [is set mostly post-war]

[Mentioning Heroes For Sale brings to my mind the poignant war-aftermath "Remember My Forgotten Man" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzNcT7wfHj4 feature sequence in Gold Diggers of 1933.]

Definitely do check out the powerful, impressive The Big Parade (and, if you're able, everything else listed above, all which are worth watching); I rewatched my DVD of the beautiful deluxe restoration of it just the other week. That movie's first approx. 30 mins. are nothing extraordinary. But from about the 30 minutes point and onward, the film is exceptional. John Gilbert and Renee Adoree are wonderful and incredible in that, both together and individually. (I'm a longtime fan of both stars. Incidentally, Adoree was yet another short-lived actor or actress of back then; she died in 1933. John Gilbert died also when young - in 1936.)

Yes, it's an era which holds a fascination for me, too. The Big Parade has been near the top of my watchlist for a long time. I have found a copy or two online but I am holding out for a good DVD or BluRay copy... maybe it's time to spend some money...

I shall certainly check out the other films you mention, too - I have only seen the later versions of The Dawn Patrol and Waterloo Bridge, so should certainly seek out the earlier films. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is another one which has been on my radar for quite some time.

Thank you so much for posting the 'My Forgotten Man' clip - I enjoyed that film as a whole very much, but that particular number was an absolute show-stopper, dazzling and soberingly powerful at the same time.

I saw a WWI film rather recently, not a very well-known one, but kind of interesting: The Road to Glory (1936). It could be a little slow-moving at times, as well as depressing, but overall not too bad. I don't really know how obscure it is...but here's the link. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/140276-the-road-to-glory?language=en-US

That's one I actually don't believe I've ever heard of before, barry. The cast list certainly looks good.

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