I finally had the chance to view "Journey's End" (1930) after years of trying to find a print. I must say I was more than wowed! In my opinion, Colin Clive delivered an Academy Award for Best Actor performance! He wasn't even nominated, but then again the production was a combination British (Gainsborough) and American (Tiffany) one. The film came out the same year as "All Quiet on the Western Front", which won the Best Picture award. In my opinion, these are equal as far as quality is concerned, perhaps "All Quiet on the Western Front" the better story, but "Journey's End" by far superior with great performances, especially Clive's, which is a dynamo. Others frontline in the cast are Billy Bevan, David Manners, Anthony Bushell, Robert Adair, Ian Maclaren, and Charles K. Gerrard. Some have complained that David Manners' performance was weak. I utterly disagree: I think he offers exactly the type of performance demanded from his part. It certainly became a seminal prototype benchmark that was followed time after time in future films about WWI and WWII. He seems to be innocent-innocent when he arrives, soft compared to everyone else. But he's eager-eager to be with the others, especially his "hero" from way back, Clive. But Clive is obviously suffering from what we now know as PTSD. Things, of course, change over the course - for both of them. War's hell. The battle scenes are equally good in the film, though not as superb as other WWI films where the action of battle is the main focus. This film actually originated as a stage play. The action is nearly totally focused in the underground bunker, not on the battlefield itself. There are a few scenes in the trenches, but they are ancillary to the plots of the main characters.
This is not a happy film at all. The end is not one of hope and glory. The film shows the near senselessness of war, but it shows it accurately and in-your-face. Bevan is a marvel in his somewhat comedic rôle. It's not comedy, but there's a lightness about it that keeps the rest of the show watchable. Same with Charles K. Gerrard as the cook. Without his drollness, the life in the underground bunker would be utterly unwatchable for viewers. I also thought this went on a lot longer than I was expecting. IMDb says this is 120 minutes long. My print is 135 minutes, two hours and fifteen minutes! It's not something you wish would hurry up. It's very engrossing.
Great piece of film-making that genuinely needs a complete restoration and revival. This one is a masterpiece! James Whale's first time as director!
This is not a happy film at all. The end is not one of hope and glory. The film shows the near senselessness of war, but it shows it accurately and in-your-face. Bevan is a marvel in his somewhat comedic rôle. It's not comedy, but there's a lightness about it that keeps the rest of the show watchable. Same with Charles K. Gerrard as the cook. Without his drollness, the life in the underground bunker would be utterly unwatchable for viewers. I also thought this went on a lot longer than I was expecting. IMDb says this is 120 minutes long. My print is 135 minutes, two hours and fifteen minutes! It's not something you wish would hurry up. It's very engrossing.
Great piece of film-making that genuinely needs a complete restoration and revival. This one is a masterpiece! James Whale's first time as director!