All Quiet on the Western Front (1979). Tragedy or blessed relief?

Paul Baumer's demise was as sudden as it was unexpected. Though desensitised by years of hideous trench warfare, his artistic sensibilities were re-aroused when in that brutalised landscape a small bird's captivating song charmed him. Determined to capture the magic moment and sketch the elusive songbird, he momentarily forgot to literally 'keep his head down' with fatal consequences. The look of sheer joy on his face suggests that his death in a moment of rare happiness could be regarded as a blessed relief! Richard Thomas gives an intelligent and moving performance as Paul Baumer, his subtle characterisation exemplified in this haunting final scene.
Dismissed by some as 'John-Boy in the trenches', this extract alone shows that to be an ill considered jibe. In my view, his identification with Baumer is totally convincing. Generally, a great performance (now brilliantly restored in full on blu-ray) by a greatly underrated actor. Who agrees (or disagrees)?

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• World War One movies
• trench
• warfare.
• Richard
• Thomas
• fan

[hxjay1971]

i had this recorded on vhs off the tv years ago,now i have it on dvd i have found some parts are cut out i dont no why,can any one help me and let me no where i can get a copy of the full uncut version from.my vhs copy got recorded over by my dad and it is safe to say there was some choice words exchanged that day, a great film which should never be cut.

[Gymroids]

@hxjay1971 Good news. If you buy the recently released blu-ray version of this film you will get it UNCUT, the full 150 mins restored! The colour and definition is superb.

[panzertiger2000]

Anybody hear that they are do in another remake of this?I was excited until I heard who is supposed to play Paul: Daniel Radcliff, damn Harry Potter! If only he could pull of a performance like Richard Thomas'...

[Gymroids]

@panzertiger2000 I agree. For me, Richard Thomas has given THE definitive performance as Paul Baumer in this 1979 film. He is also better looking than Daniel Radcliffe!

[Gymroids]

We know that Richard Thomas loved playing Paul Baumer and still regards 'All Quiet' as the favorite of his films.

[RRPxGaming]

This is so sad! Just before this the guy say his dieing mom and then he gets shot in the head because of doing what he loved.This is WW1 for you. A Bloody war with almost no purpose except for starting WW2. This war was different then WW2 in WW1 all the counties were fighting because of secret alliance. So these countries weren't enemies but that had to be. People were killing regular people. Now in WW2 the nazis were ruthless evil people but not the army they were just people who signed up!

[Gymroids]

@RRPxGaming  Very well observed comments.

[MichaelPolios]

One of my favourite films

[PRSYplays]

FUCK THIS SPOILED THE ENDING OF THE BOOK, GODDAMMIT

[Zacccc51]

@DavidJY1970 Unlike WW2, there was no 'enemies'. Just one large alliance fighting another large alliance.

[OtomoTenzi]

We all agree that this is a good movie!

[killingwithasmile182]

i love the book. I'm an American and i have to say, The German helmet is pretty intimidating.

[warjunky444]

@DavidJY1970 It was written by a German. The phrase 'enemies' does not apply.

[DavidJY1970]

This is a great story simply because it shows WW1 from the enemies perspective

[foxygrandpa1313]

@peacefulfb This was around the time they got rid of the spike. They found it to be unpractical, due to being an easy target.

[peacefulfb]

Why doesn't he have the German point to his helmet.

[colonelchris92]

@mrIhaveamuffin I meant for all nations. But of course the pride of the rich, leads to the death of ordinary men and women. When the rich declare war, the poor begin to die.