The Silents Go to War

In this book, readers can experience the tumultuous era of silent First World War propaganda films that helped shape U.S. opinion of the dreaded “Huns.” From pro-preparedness films pacifist films, “horrible Hun” films, “kill-the-kaiser” films, and outrageous comedies to thought-provoking war trauma films and patriotic documentaries, readers can survey America’s cinematic view of “the war to end all wars.”
Featured is comprehensive discussion of these films, including synopses, casts, back stories, and critical reviews and notes. Here are unusual tales and extraordinary plots with serpentine Germans (Erich von Stroheim throwing a baby out of a window in 1918’s The Heart of Humanity), noble French girls sacrificing their honor for the allied cause (Clara Kimball Young in 1918’s The Road Through the Dark), and singular Yanks (Bothwell Browne as a cross-dressing American flyer seducing the kaiser and his high command in 1919’s Yankee Doodle in Berlin).

Anita R. Appelbaum is retired from the field of children’s opera, in which she was founder and director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Opera. She lives in Land O’ Lakes, Florida.

Anita R. Appelbaum
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 211
Bibliographic Info: 17 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9034-6
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5272-6
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments viii

Foreword by Anthony Slide 1

Preface 5

Introduction: Influential Propaganda Movies During the First World War 7

1. Watchful Waiting: Antiwar and ­Pro-War Filmsof 1915 and 1916 19

2. The War Begins: The Committee on Public Information and Films of 1917 35

3. “Horrible Hun” Films of 1918 55

4. “Kaiserphobia” Films of 1918: Dramas and Comedies 72

5. Documentaries of 1918 95

6. Postwar Films of 1919 105

7. Antiwar and War Trauma Films of 1921–1930 118

Epilogue: Lost and Found 149

Chapter Notes 161

Bibliography 185

Index 195

“An interesting and enlightening study…this book does a fine job of presenting cultural history through the movie camera lens. Everything from towering classics to lesser known subjects are discussed, and, thankfully, the author does not overlook comedies (as many studies maddeningly do)…most highly recommended…one of the finest books to explore this interesting subject.”—James L. Neibaur