Will "The Road Back" ever see the light of day?

[realist]

For those not familiar with this title, "The Road Back" is a sequel to "All Quiet on the Western Front." I remember checking out this title (very poor quality) at well known LA classic rental store (it was a freebee for each film your rented). One of the board members mentioned a "work print" of this film being in existence. What the story on this film? Legal limbo? Bad elements? Thanks, Bill

[Ray Faiola]

I believe the rights reverted to Remarque. In any case, it was never in syndication through Screen Gems or MCA. There are prints extant (I have a video copy of a very nice 16mm print). Like someother properties, rights reversal may only have affected domestic distribution, so Universal may have been able to sell worldwide.

[FilmGauge]

I do remember seeing THE ROAD BACK in New York at MOMA probably in the late 1970's. The museum ran a 16mm print---probably a rental from Universal. It was shown after a presentation of a 35mm nitrate of ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT---a very beaten up print, but with footage unseen by most in the audience at that time. THE ROAD BACK was rather disappointing.

[antoniod]

Did Universal really emasculate ROAD BACK due to pressure from the German consulate, or was there more to it-perhaps an attempt to make the film more "commercial"?