I enjoyed the original B&W version which I last saw many moons ago. This looks visually excellent. I've read the book which is superb, but again a long, long time ago. As it's on Netflix (hopefully here) I'll certainly give it a go.

AmI right in thinking it's been filmed twice before, in the 30's and 70's/80's ?

QuoteAmI right in thinking it's been filmed twice before, in the 30's and 70's/80's ?

Aye, the late 70's one stars John-Boy from the Waltons.


Thought there was a 50's version as well, but got confused between this and Paths of Glory (Stanley Kubrick/Kirk Douglas).

Quote from: Raider4 on 08 September 2022, 09:59:19 AMAye, the late 70's one stars John-Boy from the Waltons.


Thought there was a 50's version as well, but got confused between this and Paths of Glory (Stanley Kubrick/Kirk Douglas).

Thanks. "Paths of Glory" I remember because the only German you see is the singer entertaining the troops.

Typical.  I cancelled my Netflix sub last week!!  Choice between bingeing and painting!

You made the right choice DecemDave 

Quote from: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 08 September 2022, 10:02:06 AMThanks. "Paths of Glory" I remember because the only German you see is the singer entertaining the troops.

And because Kubrick could do more with a selfie than some directors with half of California.

Very true

This looks pretty good, I'll add it to the list of 'Things to Watch at Some Point in The Future When I Remember!'

Watched this recently
Not as good as the silent 30s version.
No spoilers from me. . . .yet!

Quote from: howayman on 31 October 2022, 09:07:49 AMWatched this recently
Not as good as the silent 30s version.
No spoilers from me. . . .yet!

Yes, the first one with Lew Ayres as Paul is the most evocative of the war generally in my view.  Having said that I also like the 1979 TV version with Richard Thomas as Paul, Ernest Borgnine as "Kat" and Ian Holm as a very unpleasant Himmelstoss.  I haven't watched either for some time but I remember that the attention to detail in the 1979 version was good.  The book is also well worth a read and sits alongside Mottram's Spanish Farm as my two favourite WW1 books.  My late Great Uncle, who was a gunner during WW1, said that Spanish Farm was about as accurate as it got.  Have they ever made a film of Spanish Fram I wonder – can't think of one? 
Another film of a book by Remarque worth a look is A Time to Love and a Time to Die.  Set on the Eastern Front and Germany during 1944 it has a similar anti-war theme.  I haven't read the book but the film is here if anybody is interested:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RlVI1BnId4.

Well a good film, but I must say I preferred the 'original' B&W version, which to me was closer to the book than this latest version. But it is quite sometime since I read the book so could be wrong.

Steve J

I watched the film last night and agree with you regarding the original. I thought the characters played second fiddle to the action elements and if I recall the original correctly, there were no elements dealing with the General staff and Armistice discussions. The final sequence in the original involving the butterfly is far more evocative than the final sequences of this film. Overall very disappointed.

QuoteThe final sequence in the original involving the butterfly is far more evocative than the final sequences of this film. Overall very disappointed.

There was a bit in one of the trailers involving butterflies which was not in the film itself (I've not seen either of the earlier films or read the book).