The Road Back (1937): Cast & Plot
The Road Back is a 1937 war drama directed by James Whale, starring Andy Devine as Willy, John Emery and William B. Davidson. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 37m (97 min)
- Director
- James Whale
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Road Back About?
The premise of The Road Back without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After the devastation of the First World War, a group of German veterans attempt to rebuild their lives, confronting unemployment, trauma and the search for meaning. The film explores youthful optimism, romance and the struggle to readjust to civilian society, serving as a sequel to ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’.
The Road Back Themes & Keywords
· 6 tags- group
- sequel
- world war one
- sequel to best picture winner
- foreign language adaptation
- based on novel
The Road Back Cast & Characters
Andy Devine leads the cast as Willy, with John Emery as Captain Von Hagen and William B. Davidson as Bartscher. Directed by James Whale; 25 actors are credited in all.
- Director James Whale
-
Andy Devine as Willy -
John Emery as Captain Von Hagen -
William B. Davidson as Bartscher -
Frank Reicher as Ernst's Father
Also Starring in The Road Back
· 21 more- Spring Byington Ernst's Mother
- Noah Beery Jr. Wessling
- Slim Summerville Tjaden
- Lionel Atwill Prosecutor
- Samuel S. Hinds Defense Attorney
- Robert Warwick Judge
- Edwin Maxwell Principal
- Clara Blandick Willy's Mother
- Arthur Hohl Heinrich
- Louise Fazenda Angelina
- Larry J. Blake Weil (as Larry Blake)
- Etienne Girardot Mayor
- Richard Cromwell Ludwig
- Maurice Murphy Albert
- John 'Dusty' King Ernst
- Al Shean Markheim
Show all 25 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Barbara Read Lucy
- Henry Hunter Bethke
- Jean Rouverol Elsa
- Marilyn Harris Maria - Ernst's Sister
- Gene Garrick Giesicke
More from James Whale
More films directed by James Whale, best-rated first: The Bride of Frankenstein, Show Boat, The Invisible Man and Hello Out There.
The Road Back Plot Summary
What happens in The Road Back from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A squad of German machine gunners on the Western Front faces a tense debate about when the Great War will end. Among them, Willy Andy Devine stands out as a quick-witted, loyal presence, while the aristocratic Captain Von Hagen John Emery leads with a poised, almost ceremonial air. The Corporal reveals a calendar that makes the soldiers pause: tomorrow is November 11, 1918. As the company launches another assault on French lines, both sides pay a terrible price in casualties, yet the Germans somehow seize a trench. Unbeknownst to the troops below, the Armistice is being signed at that very moment, and the news reaches them just after 11 am, reshaping the meaning of every sacrifice they’ve made.
Full summary
The whole story of The Road Back, scene by scene
The Road Back Videos
The featurette of The Road Back.
How Well Do You Know The Road Back?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
Which actor portrays the quick‑witted German soldier Willy?
Seen The Road Back?
Movies Like The Road Back
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Road to Glory, All Quiet on the Western Front and No Way Back.
The Road Back FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Road Back, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Road Back?
The Road Back runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).
When was The Road Back released?
The Road Back was released on June 1, 1937.
Who directed The Road Back?
The Road Back was directed by James Whale.
More films by James Whale Who is in the cast of The Road Back?
The Road Back stars Andy Devine as Willy, John Emery as Captain Von Hagen and William B. Davidson as Bartscher, among 25 credited actors.
Does The Road Back have a post-credit scene?
No. The Road Back has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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