World War I Movies

The Motion Pictures of World War I

It never fails to surprise many of my students that movies were made in World War I. Of course, most of these motion pictures were in black and white, and all were silent, although it was common for a score of music to be written or borrowed to play along with the newsreel movies people saw in their theatres.

Naturally enough, films were censored so that people saw no blood and gore, no dead bodies of "our" soldiers, although an occasional quick slip of film showing a dead "Hun" might get past the censor, or be purposely overlooked "for Victory's sake".

People were highly passionate about the war, and young men of many nations couldn't wait to get into the fray. Of course, once confronted with the horrors of the trenches, they soon came to regret their patriotic fervor.

Other movies such as "All Quiet on the Western Front" were seen as false and unpatriotic to those who never lost a loved one, and especially to those who still believed the war was somehow justified.

This montage of movies from WWI give a story that mud, blood and the stench of death were far removed from the eyes and nostrils of most of the viewers, but the films survived show us more or less, as much as a motion picture made so long ago, can of the reality of war, uncensored now, and as revealing as can be.

Montage: Brief history in film of 1914 to 1918

American Legacy video, available on DVD

Scene from All Quiet on the Western Front".

American Women, Civilians, Go to War

World War I in Colour

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Bob Ewing says:
13 months ago

All Quiet on the western front is a powerful film.

Netters says:
13 months ago

Great article. I'm watching "The Longest Day" right now.

coffeesnob says:
13 months ago

Much happens the same today. many young men and women join to do their part and find the horrors of war to be far more traumatic than they had expected. Some do lose their passion about fighting, but I haven't seen too many lose their patriotism.

Chef Jeff says:
13 months ago

Coffeesnob, that is true, most do not lose their patriotism, but after WWI we mustn't forget that the rise of Fascism and Communism changed how many people, including many Americans, viewed patriotism.

While Fascism was ultra-patriotic in a sense, and Communism was not originally designed to be, both turned out to scream patriotism at their members. Their version of patriotism, however, was towards a cause, not a nation.

We should never forget that in the 1930's groups like Das Bundes League were fasscist organization capturing the hearts and minds of many Americans. the International workers of the world (The wobblies) or I.W.W. captured them for the Communist cause.

Many people thought Democracy had outlived its usefulness and turned to the "new isms" - Communism and Fascism.

Thanks for the comment and insight!

Cheers,

Chef Jeff

Chef Jeff says:
13 months ago

Bob, All Quiet, both the older and newer version with Richard Thomas aka "John Boy Walton" as the star were well made. Another classic is Paths of Glory with Kirk Douglas.

Netters, I was watching The Longest day as well!

Cheers!

Chef Jeff

Rob Jundt says:
13 months ago

Jeff,

What a great resource. If ever in KC you must visit the WWI museum. It's an unbelievable witness to this terrible conflict.

Thumbs Up!

Storytellersrus says:
12 months ago

what a wonderful hub, chef. one of my favorite books, now a movie, is A Very Long Engagement- a WW1 love story. BTW, the second video is no longer working. I am going to forward this address to my husband who will appreciate it.

prasadjain says:
9 months ago

I am sorry that I din't watch this article so long. Thanks to you Cheff, for producing such a magnificient hub. This article is worth $3000/- royalty, had it been published elsewhere.

Tom Cornett says:
9 months ago

A great hub of the Great War! My wife's grandfather fought in the war and died younger because of mustard gas. He was in the Big Red 1. These videos are wonderful. Thank you.

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