WW1 seasonat ElectricPalace

To coincide with the centenary of the First World War (1914-1918), the Electric Palace cinema in Hastings has been showing a season of films throughout the year, curated by Paul Sargent.

Former head curator of the Imperial War Museum Film Archive, Sargent has a long-standing interest in how war is presented on screen. The films chosen depict and question the reality of the conflict from contemporary viewpoints as well as that of the combatant countries.

On Sunday (October 19) at 8pm, the Electric Palace Cinema will be screening the 1930 Academy Award winning film

It is considered to be the greatest of all war films. Based on Erich Maria Remarque’s book, the film was received in much the same way: massive audiences, enthusiastic critics, great controversy.

Wherever it was shown – or attempted to be shown – changes and cuts were made, it was censored and even banned. Within 12 months of its release, the film had been praised and vilified, attracted massive audiences and fomented political crises in two countries. At the 1929-30 Academy Awards it won Outstanding Production and Best Director.