The Somme
Dramatic reconstruction of the Somme
This sophisticated retelling of the Battle of the Somme includes an outstanding montage 'over the top' sequence
This film about the events of the Somme, produced by New Era, continued in style of British Instructional's series of battle reconstruction films. It was principally the brainchild of Geoffrey Barkas and writer Boyd Cable (Ernest Ewart), both of whom were at the Somme. When Barkas fell ill, MA Wetherall took over the direction. The film follows the model of other battle films, incorporating some original footage and reconstructing episodes featuring heroic actions by Victoria Cross recipients.
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Cinema of WWI
A young film industry just settling into its own home - the cinema - found itself enlisted to record, report and dramatise a war unlike any other.
The films made during and just after World War I have a special directness, untainted as they are by layers of mythologising and cliché built up over the decades. There is a great variety of news, comedy and heartrending drama. A genre unique to this period of film production is the battle reconstruction film: the film equivalent of the stone memorials still to be found in every town and village of the UK.
11 videos in this collection
1
2
The Lads of the Village
3
Hedd Wyn
4
Nurse and Martyr
5
The German Spy Peril
6
East Is East
7
The Somme
8
How Kitchener Was Betrayed
9
The Man Who Came Back
10
Conscription
11