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Genres
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Release Date2019
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Runtime59 hr
The Battle of the Somme is a 1916 silent documentary film that depicts the eponymous World War I battle. Commissioned by the British government, the film was directed by Geoffrey Malins and J.B. McDowell and recorded by a team of cinematographers stationed in the frontline. The film begins by showing everyday life in the trenches, with soldiers performing duties such as cooking, reading letters, and washing. The calm is then shattered by a barrage of artillery fire as the British commence their assault on the German lines. The filmmakers captured the relentless firing of the British artillery, blurring the line between documentary and propaganda.
The Battle of the Somme is notable for its realistic portrayal of the war, with scenes showing the dead and wounded, and the traumatized look of the soldiers. The filmmakers did not shy away from showing the catastrophic consequences of the battle, which was one of the deadliest in human history. The film uses actual footage of the battle, which was meticulously edited and synced to music, making it one of the earliest examples of cinematic storytelling.
The film also documents the involvement of Commonwealth soldiers in the battle. Troops from India, Australia, and New Zealand are shown fighting alongside their British counterparts. This portrayal of the diversity of the soldiers fighting in the battle was a refreshing contrast to the usual depiction of a homogenous group of British soldiers in other propaganda films.
The Battle of the Somme was released on August 10th, 1916, while the battle was still ongoing. The film was an immediate success, grossing over £20 million in its first few months, and was shown all over Britain, including to King George V and Queen Mary. It was also an international success, with copies being shown in Australia, Canada, and the United States. The film was widely considered to be an important tool for recruiting soldiers and sustaining public support for the war effort.
Despite its immediate success, the film was not without controversy. The depiction of the war was criticized by some as being overly optimistic and failing to truly reflect the horrors of the conflict. The military censors also felt that the footage of the dead and wounded was too graphic and demanded it be removed. Nonetheless, the film remains a landmark in the history of cinema and documentary filmmaking.
In conclusion, The Battle of the Somme is a monumental film that captures the realities of World War I. It manages to document the war without glorifying it, and offers an unflinching and sensitive portrayal of the soldiers that fought and died in the battle. Despite being over a century old, the film is still a powerful reminder of the impact of war on both soldiers and civilians, and is a must-watch for anyone interested in the history of cinema and the Great War.