I already know that I can't add anything to those who have already reviewed this film...and why not , you say??? Because I saw it about 30 years ago on VHS and haven't seen it since, so I would be woefully remiss on the details. YET....I NEVER forgot it and have told NUMEROUS people to REMEMBER THE NAME (back in my day it was "Kameradschaft" and not "Comradeship" as it is "known" today) in case by some chance SOMEWHERE they may stumble upon it. I, myself, "stumbled upon it" in the foreign films section of the video store, and I had never seen it anywhere since until a few used VHS tapes came onto Amazon. The only reason I picked it up was because it was from something like Janus Films or the Criterion Collection or something of the sort, and I figured if it were from 1931 and they obviously "re-issued" it, then it must be pretty decent. So I read the liner notes on the back of the box (because they're always so perfectly accurate in their critique of the film...please note heavy sarcasm) and it seemed like a very interesting premise. I was sold enough to give it a shot. It remains one of the films I STILL talk about to this very day, and even tried listing it on my Facebook profile, but of course, Facebook apparently never heard of it either, and there was no cover page, so I had to list it as one of my favorite films with a picture of a strip of film instead of a cover. LOL. Anyway...I digress.
Here's the main reason I'm writing. Something I saw on TV tonight triggered my memory of this film, so I decided to see what IMDb reviewers had to say about it...ALL 9 OF THEM. Sheesh, I wish we could get the word out. Be that as it may, I was happy to see how it got such good reviews. Now here's the REAL reason I'm writing...one of the reviewers wrote...and here's the spoiler alert "(Note: Apparently the ending is cut on most prints, where the French rebuild the mining gate, closing off the men once again. This is a brutal turn of events, and may have made the film a better overall film, but I would have lamented it souring the positives vibes of the final sequence, so in short, I'm glad it was clipped.)". I have no beef with the reviewer because I can see how he or she could feel that way. However, I, myself DID find the ending of the ONLY version of the film I have seen (where they DID "close off" the connection of the two mines once again) to be the major STRENGTH of the film, and I was SHOCKED that it had been "cut" from later versions. To me, it DID make it a better overall film, because the ending seemed AMAZINGLY profound to me, and one I NEVER forgot. Although the "upbeat" ending will appeal to many, I thought the original ending was EXTREMELY POWERFUL because I just shook my head in sad disbelief that the wall was shown being sealed off again (not even a "gate", but rather a large steel opaque plate). I took this as the filmmaker's way of adding a really stunning "twist" to the plot, and at the same time, saying "WAKE UP, PEOPLE!!! DON'T YOU SEE WHAT JERKS YOU ARE BEING???" And to me, THAT is what both impressed me about the screenplay AND moved me emotionally (although there were PLENTY of emotionally moving scenes in this film) all in one jaw-dropping brief final shot (did I really just see what I thought I saw???)
So...I'm happy to provide another good review for this film (in whatever version you see), and I hope my take on the ending is food for thought.
Here's the main reason I'm writing. Something I saw on TV tonight triggered my memory of this film, so I decided to see what IMDb reviewers had to say about it...ALL 9 OF THEM. Sheesh, I wish we could get the word out. Be that as it may, I was happy to see how it got such good reviews. Now here's the REAL reason I'm writing...one of the reviewers wrote...and here's the spoiler alert "(Note: Apparently the ending is cut on most prints, where the French rebuild the mining gate, closing off the men once again. This is a brutal turn of events, and may have made the film a better overall film, but I would have lamented it souring the positives vibes of the final sequence, so in short, I'm glad it was clipped.)". I have no beef with the reviewer because I can see how he or she could feel that way. However, I, myself DID find the ending of the ONLY version of the film I have seen (where they DID "close off" the connection of the two mines once again) to be the major STRENGTH of the film, and I was SHOCKED that it had been "cut" from later versions. To me, it DID make it a better overall film, because the ending seemed AMAZINGLY profound to me, and one I NEVER forgot. Although the "upbeat" ending will appeal to many, I thought the original ending was EXTREMELY POWERFUL because I just shook my head in sad disbelief that the wall was shown being sealed off again (not even a "gate", but rather a large steel opaque plate). I took this as the filmmaker's way of adding a really stunning "twist" to the plot, and at the same time, saying "WAKE UP, PEOPLE!!! DON'T YOU SEE WHAT JERKS YOU ARE BEING???" And to me, THAT is what both impressed me about the screenplay AND moved me emotionally (although there were PLENTY of emotionally moving scenes in this film) all in one jaw-dropping brief final shot (did I really just see what I thought I saw???)
So...I'm happy to provide another good review for this film (in whatever version you see), and I hope my take on the ending is food for thought.