Thu 21 Jun 2007
I am disappointed that drek like TITANIC which is a 1990’s soap opera made the list and a classic like All Quiet was dropped to make room, perhaps that compilers of this list should re watch this stunning anti-war epic, and see what Lewis Milestone truly acheived, Lew Ayres gives a great performance as Paul Baumer who to quote Anna Akmatova: “aged a hundred years” in the course of the war. The scene in the shell hole with the dying poilu shows the nature of Baumer’s inner conflict: he has killed a man for wearing a different uniform. This is followed up by jubilant sniper in action. If Ayres isn’t enough there is the tragedy of Kemmerich, the cursed boots, and finally Louis Wolheim’s unforgettable performance as Kat. The film is more relevant now than ever, and has aged well since 1930.
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