All Quiet on the Western Front (1979 film)

All Quiet on the Western Front is a 1979 American made-for-television war film directed by Delbert Mann. It is a remake of the 1930 film of the same name, which was itself based on the 1929 novel by Erich Maria Remarque.

The film tells the story of a group of young German schoolboys, encouraged by their patriotic schoolmaster, Professor Kantorek, to enlist in the army during World War I. The story follows their experiences on the Western Front, where they face the brutal realities of trench warfare and gradually become disillusioned with the romantic ideals of war they initially held.

The film stars Richard Thomas as Paul Bäumer, Ernest Borgnine as Stanislaus Katczinsky (Kat), and Donald Pleasence as Professor Kantorek. It aims to portray the physical and psychological trauma inflicted upon soldiers during the war, highlighting the senselessness and futility of combat. It distinguishes itself from the 1930 adaptation through its extended runtime, allowing for a more faithful adaptation of several key plot elements from the book.

The 1979 film was nominated for several awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Made for TV, and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or a Special. While it received mixed reviews, it's generally considered a respectable adaptation of Remarque's anti-war novel and a notable entry in the genre of war films.