So Quiet on the Canine Front is a 1931 American comedy short film, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, structured as a parody of Universal Pictures' All Quiet on the Western Front,[1] a highly praised anti-war tragedy of a young student in the German army during World War I, which won, at the 3rd Academy Awards on November 5, 1930, the top prize — Award for Outstanding Production.
[6][7] As a loud orchestral rendition of "Over There" fills the soundtrack, the MGM lion is seen emitting three silent roars, followed by a title card listing the film's credits.
The professor immediately exhorts his students to volunteer — "it's nice outdoor work and a fine chance to meet some swell French mamas".
Another dog is laying out cards for a game of solitaire, still another is rolling dice, and yet another is walking (on his hind legs) sentry duty as the bugler raises a trumpet to his muzzle to sound "Taps".
As the melody continues, the canine soldiers, now laying on their army beds, blow out candles or douse them with spittle and go to sleep, making loud human snoring sounds.
A German Shepherd photographer is taking their picture, with two of the dogs posed behind a cutout of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza archetypes holding World War I-era rifles.
He later returns and grabs all the wieners which he brings to his side's trenches to share with his fellow soldiers who emit non-English-language sounds as they run on all fours to devour the treats.
Infiltrating the other side's command center, he greets, in a falsetto voice, German-accented enemy officers and is told by one of them, "Never have I seen such a beautiful mama".
Attempting to leave, Barker snares his "nurse dress" and, as the garment is pulled off, is exposed as a spy and ordered to be executed.
Back on the English-speaking side, an officer announces that a charge will be mounted to rescue "our buddy" and shouts, "follow me, men!
Von Pretzel laughs derisively, telling Barker, "you'll die like a dog" and orders the use of "limburger bomb" version of poison gas, but the weapon suddenly explodes causing him to collapse while emitting blubbering sounds.
Spotting his former laughing rival, Barker says, "my pal — you saved my life", as another limburger bomb explosion envelops them in noxious fumes.