All Quiet On The Western Front
The 1930 movie,All Quiet On The Western Front, is considered one of the greatest war movies ever made, and its success resulted in a largely forgotten sequel being released seven years later.
Directed by Lewis Milestone, the movie depicts a young student, Paul Baumer, and his group of friends, eagerly enlisting to fight for their country, but their excitement and enthusiasm is quickly shattered when they are confronted by the harsh realities of war.All Quiet On The Western Frontwas widely praised and won two Oscars, including Best Picture, the first talkie movie to win at the Oscars.
It was adapted from the 1929 novel by Erich Maria Remarque, and while both were praised, the 1930 film adaptation wasone of several movies banned in different countriesfor its depictions of war and its political messages.
Despite the controversies,All Quiet On The Western Frontis still regarded asone of the best anti-war movies ever made, due in part to a powerful performance from Lews Ayres as Paul Baumer, and its harrowing depiction of war.All Quiet On The Western Fronthas since been remade twiceand also received a surprise sequel released in 1937.
The Road Back Is Considered A Sequel To All Quiet On The Western Front
The Road Back Was Adapted From The 1931 Novel By Erich Maria Remarque
In 1937, Universal Pictures released the historical drama,The Road Back, starring John King, Richard Cromwell, and Barbara Read.
Directed by James Whale, the director of 1931’sFrankensteinofthe original Universal Dark Universe,The Road Backis set in the aftermath of World War Iand sees a group of soldiers returning to Germany and attempting to reintegrate into civilian life.
Universal Pictures
However, they each soon discover the country they left behind before the war is no longer the same, and each struggle to move on from the horrors they experienced while battling in the trenches.
Erich Maria Remarque wroteThe Road Backin 1931, as a sequel to his 1929 novel,All Quiet On The Western Front; it was first serialized in the German newspaper,Vossische Zeitung, between 1930 and 1931, before it was published as a novel (viaAbe Books).The Road Backserves as a sequel toAll Quiet On The Western Frontdue to its depiction of events that took place immediately after the end of the first movie.
The two movie adaptations are connected through the appearance of the character, Tjaden, portrayed by Slim Summerville in both movies.
All Quiet on the Western Front is a 1930 film that follows a group of young German soldiers navigating the brutal conditions of World War I on the Western Front, revealing the stark disparity between their initial patriotism and the grim realities of war.
How The Road Back Compares To All Quiet On The Western Front
It Didn’t Reach The Same Level Of Success As The Original Movie
The 1937 movie adaptation ofThe Road Backhad a difficult production, including the accidental death of stuntperson, George Daly.
The director, James Whale, originally intended for the movie to be a strong anti-war movie, similar to1930’sAll Quiet On The Western Front.
However,warnings from German industry censors and financial concerns meant that the script was rewritten, removing anti-Nazi statements that were featured in the novel.
Whale was also ordered to reshoot parts ofThe Road Backto feature more comedic and romance scenes, further shifting focus away from the main story (viaSlashfilm).
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Upon release,The Road Backreceived mixed reviews from critics, with many agreeing that the sequel didn’t match up toAll Quiet On The Western Front.
While there was praise for its battle sequences, the movie was criticized for its confusing plot, and censorship of the novel’s anti-Nazi sentiments.
Remarque was reportedly so upset withThe Road Back, that he refused to renew his contract with Universal Pictures (viaNew York Post).
A restored version ofThe Road Backwas later released to better reviews, but wasn’t strong enough to reach the same level of success asAll Quiet On The Western Front.
Sources:Abe Books,Slashfilm,New York Post
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All Quiet on the Western Front is a 1930 film that follows a group of young German soldiers navigating the brutal conditions of World War I on the Western Front, revealing the stark disparity between their initial patriotism and the grim realities of war.
