Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1931)

mA u met on the WESTERN FRONT" W INS The Photoplay Magazine Gold Medal As the Best Picture of the Year 1930 Carl Laemmle, Sr. — he bought the story 'The Covered THE motion picture audience of the world has awarded Photoplay Magazine's famous Gold Medal for the best picture released in 1930 to Universal Pictures for "All Quiet on the Western Front." This is the eleventh annual award of this honor which has from the beginning been recognized as the highest distinction that can be earned by a motion picture. It is the second talking picture to win the medal. The previous winners were — " Humoresque," 1920; "Tol'able David," 1921; "Robin Hood," 1922; Wagon," 1923; "Abraham Lincoln," 1924; "The Big Parade," 1925; "Beau Geste," 1926; "7th Heaven," 1927; "Four Sons," 1928, and "Disraeli," 1929. "All Quiet" is, without doubt, one of the greatest sermons of peace ever preached. And that the pulpit for this sermon should have been a silver screen is significant indeed. WHAT went into the making of the film is a great story in itself. Carl Laemmle, Sr., had but recently turned over his Universal Film Corporation to a smiling lad of twenty-one — his son Carl Laemmle, Jr. Junior had read Erich Remarque's amazing book, "All Quiet on the Western Front." Junior wanted to make a picture of it. Hollywood laughed. Why, you couldn't make a picture out of a book like that! But Junior thought you :ould. He cabled his father, who was on his way to Germany, asking him to buy the book. Carl, Sr., shook his head, but was eventually persuaded to sink nearly a million and a half dollars into the film. The boy, Carl Laemmle, Jr., had a vision. He saw it fulfilled and glorified. Young Laemmle selected Lewis Milestone to direct "All Quiet." Milestone — himself a young man — had been known as a comedydrama director. This was the first deadly The Nobel prize of filmdom — Photoplay's Gold Medal which goes this year to Universal Lewis Milestone — he directed it serious story he had attempted. When "All Quiet" was released he was recognized as a directorial genius. In the 1930-31 vote of motion picture critics, polled by the Film Daily, a trade publication, he was rated as the best director. Also this year he was singled out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as the man who had done the most able directing in 1930. "All Quiet" was not a star picture — yet it introduced a new and vivid star to the screen — Lewis Ayres. Again Laemmle, Jr., showed courage in choosing an almost untried actor for the difficult role of the boy Paul. Ayres had had but slight film experience. Immediately upon the release of "All Quiet" he became a sensation. But it is not his performance alone that you recall — it is the cast as a whole that remains a fierce and beautiful momorv. Erich Remarque — he wrote the book o: Carl Laemmle, Jr. — he produced it at the age of 21 NE of that troupe Louis Wolheim, the lovable, humorous A"<7/< zinsky, died a few months ago. But his work in this great picture will never be forgotten. The younger men who played with Ayres — Russell Gleason, William Bakewell, Scott Kolk, Walter Browne Rogers, Ben Alexander, Owen Davis, Jr. — began the picture as boys but, realizing the seriousness of their work, finished it as men. John Wray and Slim Summerville deserve attention, as does Raymond Griffith for a The others were all excellent and added to the force of the picture. Maxwell Anderson and George Abbott must be given great credit. These two famous playwrights wrote treatment and dialogue. In every way "All Quiet on the Western Front" was a perfect film. The number of votes received this year has been tremendous. A word of explanation must be said about why the 1930 award is not made until December, 1931. This is so the people throughout the world may ha ve a chance [ PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 113 ] B7 Lew Ayres — he won fame in it magnificent "bit."