Zeit zu leben und Zeit zu sterben

I can recommend this war film. Despite distracting weaknesses in production quality, the power of the material carries the viewer along very effectively. The scenario is the dying days of World War II from the perspective of a German soldier. This represents unusual material for Hollywood, and romantic leading man John Gavin is odd casting as the hero. Although his flashes of American pearly whites are incongruous, he and indeed all the actors do quite well in their parts although hampered by the forced pace of the direction and the artificial quality of the sound recording. Clearly overdubbed, the dialogue has the quality of a read- through in an indoor studio, despite most of the action being out-of-doors. The cinematography is quite good and the sets impressive as the soldier Ernst moves from the horrors of the Russian front to the heavily-bombed hometown where he returns on leave. Trying to find what has become of his parents, he receives little sympathy from his countrymen and women, who are deadened (or maddened) by the bombardment from the skies they are experiencing. Officialdom is represented by a range of repulsive types, underlining the moral ambiguity the hero is struggling with after his experiences on the front. Where in all this horror is anything worth living for? The answer comes in his developing relationship with the winsome Elizabeth, portrayed by a delightful actress whose name is not familiar to me. What hopes of happiness in the maelstrom of the times? A poignant moment comes when the couple fantasize where they would like to go for a honeymoon, only to reflect that as Germans they would be hated just about everywhere. I found this a memorable film.

Re: Shannon Box's (sbox@gvtc.com) observation: "In short, this is an important film of significant value. Not because it is about history, but because it is about the redeeming quality of humanity, even if displayed in the setting of our onetime enemy." I would change the last of Shannon's statement to BECAUSE it is displayed in the setting of our onetime enemy. I saw this film shortly after it was released, in a theater on a USArmy post in Munich, Germany (McGraw Kaserne). At that time I was a student, especially of German history. This film provided an opportunity to be transported, for a few hours, into that closed society that our German friends had lived through but could not adequately convey to us. For those who enjoyed this film I would recommend reading "The Officer Factory" by Hans Helmut Kirst and Betrayed Skies (I have forgotten the author, but that is a first rate but largely unknown German pilot's story of his unwilling part in the air war). In short, this is a modern day All Quiet on the Western Front.

It is a lush rendition set In 1944, a company of German soldiers on the Russian front are numbed by the massacres and violence of a bloody war , there Private Ernst Graeber (John Gavin) is given a furlough and he goes back home in Germany, as he finds his home bombed , then hopelessly looking for his parents, but also meets a beautiful girl called Elizabeth Kruse (Lilo Pulver) with whom he falls in love . Both of them attempt to survive from a world full of slaughter , ambition and hatred . The are happily joined, only to be separated when he is forced to return to the Russian front. Born out of the blazing passions of war! The great love story of World War II by the author of "All Quiet on the Western Front"...There Was Nothing Else in the World Now...But Them! No shame, no law, only love and each other...and the thunder of their pounding hearts...

This Douglas Sirk's penultimate masterpiece turns to be an interesting and thought-provoking film showing the human side of the enemy , including romance , emotion , thrills , and hardships and horror of an unfinished war, giving a sympathetic treatment of Germans opposited to Hitler' policies. It rests on a sad simmetry between the scenes at the Russian front and the central section in the bombed home-town . An affectionate love story with uncommon compassionate portrayal of Germans that takes place when a long awaited furlough comes through a good soldier : John Gavin and arriving in his half-ruined town he falls in love for a lovely girl : Lilo Pulver who results to be daughter of a political prisoner . This doomed and tragic romance exists non in spite of war, but because of it. This is one of few American films which portray World War II on the German side and the main roles were the German enemy. Based on a novel by prestigious author Erich Maria Remarque , published in 1954, who also wrote other successful war novels such as All Quiet on the Western Front by Lewis Milestone and The Arch of Triumph that were equally adapted ; in addition , playing himself a brief appearance . Starring John Gavin, credited to his real name Dana J. Hutton, gives a wooden acting in his film debut , while Lilo Pulver is better than him thanks to her sympathy , and attractive face . Good support cast , such as : Jock Mahoney , Don DeFore , Keenan Wynn , KlausvKinski, Thayer David , Barbara Rütting, among others.

It contains a colorful and superb cinematography in Technicolor by Russell Metty, though a perfect remastering being extremely necessary . Being shot on location in Germany. Sensitive and enjoyable musical score by Miklos Rozsa . The motion picture was well directed by Douglas Sirk . He was a fundamental filmmaker who gave prestigious movies , usually collaborating with similar technicians as cameraman Russell Metty , Production Designer Alexander Golitzen , Producer Ross Hunter and writer George Zuckerman . Sirk directed a lot of classic melodramas such as : Never say goobye , Interlude , Summerstorm , The first legion , The lady pays off , Tarnished Angels , A time to love a time to die , Magnificent obsession , All that heaven allows , Written in the Wind . But he also directed other genres as WWII : Mystery submarine , Hitler's madmen ; Thrillers and Film Noir : Shockproof , Thunder on the hill , A scandal in Paris , Lured ; Historical : Attila with Jack Palance ; Adventures : Thunderbolt and Lightfoot with Hudson and Barbara Rush ; and even a Western : Taza . Rating : 7/10 , better than average . Worthwhile watching.

This film, beautifully shot, is the tale of a simple soldier falling in love, during trying times. The soldier is German. The struggle is World War II. The setting is Berlin.

1958 was surely a hard year to make such a film. In fact, this film could not be made today. However, this love story was made, with the enemy at the focus. Of course, enemy never crossses the viewer's mind. We are with the protaganist throughout the movie.

In short, this is an important film of significant value. Not because it is about history, but because it is about the redeeming quality of humanity, even if displayed in the setting of our onetime enemy.

I saw this fabulous tear-jerker purely by accident but I don't regret it one bit. In my opinion it's one of the best romantic war films ever made. This is mainly because the fabulous director Douglas Sirk doesn't allow it to become a soppy schmaltz. Also, the film is incredibly moving, especially in a scene at the beginning where a young man, unable to live with the guilt of having shot a woman, shoots himself. John Gavin is good as Ernst Graeber and his beloved is adequately played by Liselotte Pulver, but the most outstanding performance, I think, is by Charles Régnier as Joseph. If more war films were made like this then they would be much, much more watchable. The credit sequence at the beginning of the film is also very well done. Why don't more people know this masterpiece? Enjoy! (and don't forget the Kleenex) 10/10