Journey's End (1930)

Synopsis: James Whale's first film joins a host of poignant WWI stories receiving the Hollywood treatment in the 1920s and early 1930s (ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, WHAT PRICE GLORY?), including one he... James Whale's first film joins a host of poignant WWI stories receiving the Hollywood treatment in the 1920s and early 1930s (ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, WHAT PRICE GLORY?), including one he codirected (HELL'S ANGELS). In the trenches behind British lines at St. Quentin, France, a group of officers awaits an upcoming German attack. Paternal schoolmaster Lieutenant "Uncle" Osborn (Ian Maclaren) greets a green new officer, Raleigh (David Manners), who says he already knows Captain Stanhope (Colin Clive), the company's commander. Stanhope and Raleigh's sister are in love, but after years on the front, Stanhope has become a brusque, embittered drunk who tries to break the strain of war with whiskey. Stanhope is enraged to find Raleigh among his officers, paranoid that the young recruit is negatively judging him. Tensions mount in the close quarters of the officers' bunker, relieved only by jovial Lieutenant Trotter's (Billy Bevan) joking about the horrible food and talk of "rugger" and home. Soon some of the officers must go on a prebattle raid, and not all will return. A realistic tale of the casualties resulting from war (emotional and physical), the film shows the singular bond between men who fight and die together. [More]

Starring: James Whale, Colin Clive

Starring: James Whale, Colin Clive