The film, based on the novel of the same name by German author Erich Maria Remarque, attracted large audiences, as well as Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director, but still lost money due to its high costs.

In Germany, ultra-nationalists campaigned against the film, claiming its pacifist message to be unpatriotic.  The movie was later banned by the Nazis for the same reason and Remarque was vilified, but was fortunately in exile at the time.

It would be 43 years before Universal Studios would win another Best Picture Oscar – for The Sting.

Future film directors George Cukor and Fred Zinneman were both employed on the movie, the former as a dialogue coach and the latter as an extra.