ST. JAMES THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 118, 22 May 1939, Page 4

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

"AH Quiet on the Western Front."

Film-goers generally, as well as those New Zealanders who interest themselves in the international situation in the hope of world peace, will welcome the news that Universal Pictures have secured new prints of the film that caused such a sensation when it was released nearly a decade ago. "All Quiet on the Western Front" fully equals the success achieved by Erich Remarque's famous book. The production is a magnificent picturisation of the fate of youth in war. Its hero, young Paul Baumer, is a German, but he stands for the youth of all nations subjected to the most terrible of all human experiences. The picture portrays the effect of war upon young Baumer and his companions. It is the poignant story of youth that has been denied its chance in life, of youth hurled into a ceaseless hell of body and soul before it has begun to live. There are many scenes that will remain etched permanently upon the memory of the beholder . . . scenes terrific in their tragedy . . . scenes sublime in their heroism . . . scenes touching in their simple pathos. And always in the background is the tremendous panorama of the world's greatest conflict. Lewis Ayres is the central role, and the late Louis Wclheim and John Wray give performances that have never been surpassed on the motion picture screen. Others in the large cast who stand prominently forth are Slim Summerville, Russell Gleason, William Bakewell, Ben Alexander, Owen Davis, and' Zasu Pitts. The broad sweep of war is never alowed to obscure the human beings whose fate is the foremost consideration in the picture. The story of "All Quiet" is based on the experiences and observations of Remarque, who went to the war as a schoolboy. Every character and every incident is authentic. Critics have proclaimed the grim realness of the book, the secret of its recordbreaking success, and it is this powerful appeal that Universal have again brought to the screen. .In his own words, Remaque wrote "All Quiet" to free himself from the memory of war. He wrote simply, setting down the story of his own experiences— without glamour or heroics. The battle scenes in "All Quiet," in which more than two thousand soldiers, war veterans of all nationalities, participated, are the most spectacular and yet the most genuine ever filmed. This great j film document will have its New Zealand premiere at the St. James Theatre on Friday next.