"All Quiet on the Western Front"

The film "All Quiet on the Western Front" is a classic Hollywood adaptation of Erich Remarque's novel. It takes a hard look at the tragedy of war using World War I as its backdrop. Before you watch the film find out: 1. When was the film released? 2. Who is the director? 3. What novelwas it based on? Find information about the author. 4. Is this the first version of the film? As you watch the film, please answer the following questions.

1. What is the title of this film? When was it made? Who wrote the original novel?

2. Why did the students join the Army?

3. What role did the mailman (Himmelstoess) have? Was he particularly mean to these recruits? Give an example.

4. How were conditions at the Western Front different from their expectations in training camp?

5. What was the impact of the shelling on the new recruits?

6. What happened after the bombardment?

7. In the attack, what did the machine gun do to the glory of war and individual heroism?

8. How many of the company died in this first battle? How do you know? Why were they able to eat so well finally?

9. Who did they blame for this war? Who did they omit in their list of potential villains?

10. What happened to Kemmerich's boots? How did the doctors' react to Kemmerich's plight?

11. How was Sgt. Himmelstoess received when he arrived at the front?

12. What was the pattern of a battle? What preceded the attack? What followed it?

13. What happened to Paul Baumer when he found himself in a shellhole in No Man's Land with the French soldier?

14. Why did the French girls - ostensibly the enemy - accept the German soldiers?

15. After four years of war, how has the German homefront been affected? Were there still the parades, crowded streets, and joyous sounds of going off to war?

16. What were the attitudes of the men in the beer hall? Were they willing to listen to what Paul had to say?

17. How does Paul Baumer confront his former teacher? How do the young students react to his vision of the war?

18. How has the company changed during Paul's absence?

19. What is ironic about Kat's and Paul's deaths? [Note: The war ended on November 11, 1918.]

20. Describe the attitude of this movie towards World War I and all wars.