GROTESQUE!

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11383, 8 December 1930, Page 5

GROTESQUE!

‘ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT”

FIERCE BATTLE - OVER. FILM IN

GERMANY

(U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 7,. 5 p.m.) BERLIN, Dec. 6

It is curious to note that, .although England received tlio film, “All, Quiet on. the Western * Front”, as a, war masterpiece, a fierce .battle of opinion is proceeding in Germany. The Republicans regard the film-as a true picture of the war, but to nearly everybody else especially the Nationalists, it is a grotesque caricature and injurious to Germany in the eyes of the world.

One Republican newspaper says :

“It is astounding ihat this book by a Gorman soldier should be filmed in such a way that nowhere can anything lie seen offensive to the Germans.”

On the contrary, tho groat Catholic “Germania” says:—

or li,

“The picture presented of a, German soldier is a libel on millions of dead. Remarque’s men are not men, body and soul, but soulless debauchees, thinking of nothing but guzzling and boozing, trembling in every limb when in the trenches or exposed to shell fire. The German soldier was not like that even in* the autumn of 1918, when demoralisation had already made rapid progress.”

The Monarchist and Fascist press, of course, are furious and describe tbn exhibition of the film ns a political scandal.

OPPOSITION TO TALKIE IN BERLIN

FIGHTS IN THEATRE

(U.P.A. by F.lec. Tel. Copvright) BERLIN. Dee. 5.

Throwing stink bombs and catcalling Nazi spectators broke up the production of a German version of the talkie “All Quiet on the Western Front''. Attendants trying to pacify the audience were shouted down with cries of “Wake up Germany”, and “Down with the Jews.” Ex-sol-diers shouted that- the film was an insult to the German soldiers.

The police cleared the theatre with t luncheons.