"Hallmark Hall of Fame" All Quiet on the Western Front (1979)

Director:

Delbert Mann

Writers:

Paul Monash (screenplay)
Erich Maria Remarque (novel)

TV Series:

"Hallmark Hall of Fame" (1951)

Original Air Date:

14 November 1979 (Season 29, Episode 1)

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:

Corporal | Hospital | School | Disillusionment | Underwear

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

  (Episode Cast overview, first billed only)

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:

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

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: When Paul Baumer returns home on leave, and hugs his sister, the straps of a modern bra can be seen showing through her blouse.

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 (2010)

Ahead of its time...

Considering this was made in 1979, this is quiet an astonishing film, that is incredibly realistic in its portrayal of the futility of combat in world war one. I first saw this film on TV in the early 80's , and i've seen it again a few times on video since then. The story is compelling, powerful and incredibly moving. The most powerful message of the movie, in my opinion, is that there are no "good" or "bad" guys in war - there's just you and someone else who is out to kill you. The suffering that the real soldiers went through in WW1 is powerfully conveyed in this film. One of my all time favourites - considering that it was just a TV film makes its even more astonishing. If you want a film to move you and make you think about life, look out for this one in your video store. This is another classic "sleeper" - along with the likes of Glory, Shawshank Redemption, Cross of Iron and others that haven't hit the Hollywood bigtime, but have made a lot of people feel moved....