When German novelistErich Maria RemarquewroteAll Quiet on the Western Frontin 1929, it was as if the world had been waiting for someone to finally tell war’s ugly truth. At the time, war stories were either glorified or avoided altogether, with many believing audiences wouldn’t stomach such a raw, unfiltered look at the battlefield. Remarque’s novel defied this expectation, becoming one of the most powerful portrayals of disillusionment in war literature. The novel tells the story of Paul,a teenage soldier who enrolls with his schoolmates after being indoctrinatedwith war heroic ideology. However, his patriotic dreams are shattered by the grim realities of the frontlines.
What Is ‘A Walk in the Sun’ About?
Through Paul’s eyes,the book vividly delves into the terrifying physical carnage of war—violence, loss, and some of the unspeakable things soldiers do to survive. In between these harrowing bursts of violence, Remarque’s text dives into reflection, with the soldiers' actions reflecting their inner turmoil. The novel was such a hit that it attracted Universal Pictures, which snagged the rights to adapt it into a film. Tasked with the mandate was directorLewis Milestone, who turned the book intoone of the most groundbreaking war films ever in 1930.Itsanti-war message led to its ban in Nazi Germany and other destinationsbut did not deter it from winning an Oscar for Best Director and Best Outstanding Production. It was also nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography. Since then, Remarque’s novel has been adapted into other onscreen offerings, including a TV series andEdward Berger’s 2022 movieof the same title.
WhileAll Quiet on the Western Frontremains Milestone’s most influential work, if not his best, he crafted another poetic piece,A Walk in the Sun, set during World War II and released just after the war in 1945. A novel adaptation just likeAll Quiet on the Western Front, the filmis based onHarry Brown’s book of the same title and offers a meditative portrait that focuses on the slow-burning tension experienced by those on the battlefield, particularly capturing the quiet and harrowing moments between battles. Nearly forgotten,A Walk in the Sunis a film that inspired generations of war movies, includingSteven Spielberg’s blockbusterSaving Private Ryan.
‘A Walk in the Sun’ Explores War’s Quiet and Crushing Weight
A Walk in the Suneschews the perpetual roar of gunfire and the chaos of battle in war films to zoom in on theunsettlingly long, grueling march by soldiers toward an uncertain fate.Following a U.S. Army platoon tasked with seizing a heavily fortified farmhouse and demolishing a nearby bridge, the film explodes in quiet tension rather than a bombardment spectacle. Milestone lingers on the waiting, the exhaustion, and the creeping anxiety ofsoldiers who don’t know if they’ll survive the next hour.His camera captures their quiet struggles during the match, managing to place us next to the soldiers. From sitting in the trenches as dogfights rage in the sky—yet they never see them, to dialogues and monologues that reveal their anxieties—we feel with them. We share in the irony of their limited knowledge of their surroundings—likeseeing smoke and hearing the sound of bombs and gunfireand never really witnessing what’s going on. Moreover, through its characters,A Walk in the Suntakes a dive into their psychological being.John Ireland’s character, for instance, reads imaginary letters to his sister back at home, revealing his innermost fears, hopes, and quiet desperation.Hubert Rudleyas Sergeant Porter descends into madness as a result of war fatigue, to which a fellow soldier comments that he has seen too much of the war.
Lewis Milestone’s Masterful Direction of ‘A Walk in the Sun’ Is Complimented by Impeccable Performances
Lewis Milestone’s vision forA Walk in the Sunis restrained yet poetic.It is as if he crafts a war within a war,with the movie’s silent scenes feeling as tense as waiting for bombs to begin dropping. He builds this tension through deliberate quiet moments and the psychological weight that his characters carry. His visuals are striking as well—particularly his horizontal dolly shots in which soldiers run toward the camera as it moves laterallythat capture themesmerizing unpredictability of the chaos.He uses music that synchronizes with the soldiers' marching to accompany images of theirjourney to the Nazi-occupied farmhouse.However, his near-literal adaptation of the book makes the film feel at times like a play, something that critics also observed aboutAll Quiet on the Western Front.
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Beside Milestone’s masterful direction, the film’s cast elevates his vision.Dana Andrews’s performance as Sergeant Tyne, the calm and introspective leader who, despite war’s fatigue, is determined to move forward, is impressive.Richard ConteandGeorge Tine offer an intriguing dynamic full of energy.Their lines are filled with wit, banter, and philosophy. John Ireland’s poetry in his letters to his sister, delivered with charm and care, takes us through their journey, painting a vivid picture of war.A Walk in the Sun’s genius is in its introspection that allows its characters to showcase their human side. It’s no wonder thatSteven Spielberg cited it as one of the movies that influenced his treatmentofSaving Private Ryan. IfAll Quiet on the Western Frontstruck a chord with you, AWalk in the Sunis essential viewing.
A Walk in the Sun
