Westfront 1918

Westfront 1918

Deutschland 1930, Spielfilm

Synopsis

The Western Front 1918

Based on the novel Vier von der Infanterie by Ernst Johannsen, The Western Front 1918 tells the story of four German soldiers of very different personalities and social backgrounds who serve together on the French front during the last year of World War I. The happy Bavarian is unshakeable and optimistic. Karl from Berlin has been home on leave, but finds another man in his wife′s bed and is glad to return to his comrades. The lieutenant only knows his duty and seems not to be interested in anything but his duty. The fourth man is a student who has fallen in love with a young French woman named Yvette, to whom he must bid farewell as the company moves on.

The war brings a gruesome end for all four men. The student is killed in no man′s land. The Bavarian is badly injured during a reconnaissance mission. The man from Berlin dies in a field hospital with the accusation "we are all to blame!" on his lips. The lieutenant, whose upright bearing made him appear invulnerable, loses his countenance and his sanity and is sent to a field hospital as a mental wreck.

Source: German films Service & Marketing GmbH

Comments

Have you seen this film? Then share your thoughts with us!

Credits

All Credits

Director:G. W. Pabst
Assistant director:Paul Falkenberg, Victor Trivas (?)
Screenplay:Ladislaus Vajda
Dialogue:Peter Martin Lampel
based on:Ernst Johanssen (Roman "Vier von der Infanterie")
Director of photography:Fritz Arno Wagner, Charles Métain
Production design:Ernö Metzner, Willy Reiber (Ausführung)
Set construction:Willy Reiber
Editing:Wolfgang Loë-Bagier, Hans Oser (ungenannt)
Sound:Karl Brodmerkel, Guido Bagier (Leitung der Vertonung), Joseph Massolle (Leitung der Vertonung)
Consultant:André Saint-Germain
Music:Alexander Laszlo
  
Cast: 
Fritz KampersBayer
Gustav DiesslKarl
Hans Joachim MoebisStudent
Claus ClausenLeutnant
Gustav PüttjerHamburger
Jackie MonnierFranzösin Yvette
Hanna HoessrichKarls Frau
Else HellerKarls Mutter
Carl BalhausSchlachtergeselle
Else HellerKarls Mutter
Wladimir SokoloffMeal Orderly
Emil Wabschke
Aribert Mog
André Saint-Germain
Fritz Métain
Ilse Trautschold
  
Production company:Nero-Film AG (Berlin)
Producer:Seymour Nebenzahl
Unit production manager:Leo Meyer
Location manager:Walter Zeiske
Shoot:01.02.1930-18.05.1930: Petershagen bei Frankfurt/Oder
Original distributor:Vereinigte Star-Film GmbH (Berlin)
Format:35mm, 1:1,19
Picture/Sound:s/w, Tobis-Klangfilm
Rating:Prüfung: 13.03.1933
Screening:Uraufführung (DE): 23.05.1930, Berlin, Capitol

Titles

Originaltitel (DE) Westfront 1918
Untertitel Vier von der Infanterie

Versions

Original

Format:35mm, 1:1,19
Picture/Sound:s/w, Tobis-Klangfilm
Rating:Prüfung: 13.03.1933
Screening:Uraufführung (DE): 23.05.1930, Berlin, Capitol
 

Prüffassung

Length:2401 m, 88 min
Rating:FSK-Prüfung (DE): 10.01.1957, 13678, ab 16 Jahre / feiertagsfrei
 
Length:8 Akte, 2672 m, 98 min
Rating:Zensur (DE): 27.04.1933, O.06490, Verbot;
Zensur (DE): 21.05.1930, B.25961, Jugendverbot