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1917 on Film
A fourth year of war and no end in sight. Government propaganda stepped up, and even animation took a dark turn... What our forebears saw in cinemas a century ago.
1917 was the darkest year of the war. With stagnation on the western front and the German U-boat campaign beginning to really bite, the country was now on a total war footing. In the film world, the government took over the Topical Film Company’s newsreel units and began to produce more propaganda films, largely on home front issues such as the formation of the Women's Land Army, as well as (well-censored) reporting from the front. Henry Edwards began to produce ‘film tags’: two-minute story films with home front messages on rationing, saving food and recycling materials. Meanwhile, momentous news from Russia barely registered in British films. With film stock scarce, only a few long dramas were produced. One of the most revealing films of the year is Dudley Buxton's animation Ever Been Had, which although ostensibly comic, imagines a grim future in which the British, having prematurely made peace with Germany before she was comprehensively beaten, are crushed by German super weapons. The destruction of London by death rays from the sky and great amphibious tanks crawling over its ruins is a chilling a vision as anything cinema has invented.
No Mischief Here Can Satan Find for Idle Hands to DoNo Mischief Here Can Satan Find for Idle Hands to Do
19171 minsSilent
Pathe's series on WWI turns its eye homeward in this edition about the interning of enemy aliens
The Production of a MapThe Production of a Map
Non-Fiction19177 minsSilent
Worlds within worlds: a maps and globes factory, expertly charted on celluloid
Metropolitan Police Ambulance TeamMetropolitan Police Ambulance Team
191718 minsSilent
Metropolitan Police officers demonstrate their paramedic skills in this early training film
History of the War: The Birth Place of the Great WarHistory of the War: The Birth Place of the Great War
19177 minsSilent
Episode of Pathé's series on WWI, focused on the outbreak of hostilities between Austria and Serbia
Mighty AtomsMighty Atoms
19178 minsSilent
While mothers make guns, children have fun: take a peek inside the Woolwich Nursery for the Children of Munition Workers
Mrs. Cooper's Film No 2Mrs. Cooper's Film No 2
Amateur film191726 minsSilent
Can film fight? In this fascinating amateur footage, King George sends officers to the front with reels and projectors
Empire TroopsEmpire Troops
19173 minsSilent
The might of the British Empire is mobilised for war during 1914 and 1915.
Carrying On in BlackpoolCarrying On in Blackpool
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent Location: Blackpool
What a carry on! Grown-ups and nippers alike enjoy some seaside fun at Blackpool
Women Unloading Railway TrucksWomen Unloading Railway Trucks
Non-Fiction19172 minsSilent
Sprucely dressed women set themselves to lugging tarpaulin and unloading sacks in this WWI newsreel
AlpsAlps
Travelogue19173 minsSilent
This scrapbook travelogue takes a pictorial tour of the Alps by train, sledge and sleigh
Aldershot Command GazetteAldershot Command Gazette
19176 minsSilent
King George V and Queen Mary review activities at Aldershot, Hampshire - Britain's largest military training camp
History of the War: Russian FrontHistory of the War: Russian Front
19174 minsSilent
Intriguing instalment in Pathé series on WWI, looking at our Russian allies on the Eastern Front
"Peril" The Story of the Gotha Raiders"Peril" The Story of the Gotha Raiders
War191723 minsSilent Location: London
Lively blood and thunder yarn in which German spies try to destroy London's air defences
History of the War: YpresHistory of the War: Ypres
19171 minsSilent
Tantalising fragment from Pathé's History of the War series, looking at the battle of Ypres
King's Maundy MoneyKing's Maundy Money
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent
King George V hands out the traditional silver coins to the poor on Maundy Thursday.
Lowering Torpedo into Submarine E. 23Lowering Torpedo into Submarine E. 23
19177 minsSilent
The improved E class submarine, E.23, takes on fresh torpedoes for another stealth mission in this WWI news film
Primeminister at BathPrimeminister at Bath
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent Location: Bath
Wartime wedding bells for Richard Lloyd George, son of the PM, at Bath Abbey.
Italian and Greek Troops in Action: Italians Decorated by Prince of WalesItalian and Greek Troops in Action: Italians Decorated by Prince of Wales
Documentary19177 minsSilent
Mysterious unidentified footage of troops in WW1 featuring a glimpse of Edward, Prince of Wales
Wreck of L. 39Wreck of L. 39
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent
French soldiers guard the wreck of the L.39 Zeppelin, brought down by Brought down in the Boulevard Gambetta, Compiegne
Lines of CommunicationLines of Communication
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent
Entrenched support for the front lines: French engineers lay cables to enable HQ to direct troops from as far away as possible
St. David's DaySt. David's Day
Non-Fiction19170 minsSilent Location: Westminster
Welsh ladies selling St David's Day flags on the streets of Westminster brighten many a soldier's day.
United Service SportsUnited Service Sports
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent
Army athletes compete for glory on foot and bike.
Will There Be Women MPs?Will There Be Women MPs?
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent Location: London
The leading organisation fighting for women's suffrage changes tack, as Christabel and Emmeline Pankhurst launch the Women's Party.
Potato PhilanthropistPotato Philanthropist
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent
An East End celebrity hides in a hamper with some much-needed food for the women of the home front
Peter's Picture PoemsPeter's Picture Poems
Animation & Artists Moving Image19173 minsSilent
A star-spangled sock on the nose for Kaiser Wilhelm, as this wordplay propaganda cartoon meets war crimes with pun-ishment
Nation's Food - MeatNation's Food - Meat
19178 minsSilent
Where's the beef? The exotic origins of the British Sunday roast are explored in this short film about meat
Potato QueuesPotato Queues
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent
The humble spud is the star attraction for the long lines of people waiting to fortify their wartime Sunday lunches
Sports on the IceSports on the Ice
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent
Nannies and nippers compete with seasoned skaters on a frozen pond near London in this charming wintery newsreel.
ToboganningToboganning
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent
Hitting the north London slopes for some snow-filled excitement
Troops Training for the First World WarTroops Training for the First World War
19179 minsSilent
O Canada! Away from their native land, these troops are prepared for the Western Front at a Canadian Training School
Everybody's BusinessEverybody's Business
Government sponsored film191730 minsSilent
"Eat less bread" is the key message in this ambitious propaganda film on the importance of 'food economy' to the war effort
Porte Flying BoatPorte Flying Boat
Documentary191711 minsSilent
Don't be fooled - she's no baby. The Porte Baby's name belies the true size of this monster flying boat!
Airship on a Mooring MastAirship on a Mooring Mast
19177 minsSilent
High winds are not good for airships, especially when moored: this study demonstrates what happens when the winds blow
Agitated AdvertsAgitated Adverts
Animation & Artists Moving Image191710 minsSilent
Anson Dyer imagines the characters behind newspaper adverts and brings them to life in this Kine Komedy Kartoon
Drumhead ServiceDrumhead Service
Non-Fiction19170 minsSilent Location: Haringey
A London concert singer attends a military religious service to bless two new ambulance held in a London park.
British Women's Volunteer Army (Land Workers' Section)British Women's Volunteer Army (Land Workers' Section)
Documentary191714 minsSilent
Film stars Violet Hopson and Ivy Close lend their celebrity to the war effort – and they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty
Motherhood; A Living Picture of Life TodayMotherhood; A Living Picture of Life Today
191729 minsSilent
"Is this a pudding? It's more like a cannon ball" - Mary struggles to live up to her husband's high expectations
His Majesty's Visit to His Grand FleetHis Majesty's Visit to His Grand Fleet
Documentary19179 minsSilent
Official film of George V's visit to his Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow, Orkney
The King's Tour Round the Napier Motor WorksThe King's Tour Round the Napier Motor Works
19176 minsSilent
George V checks the new-fangled "aero engines" are up to scratch in a West London factory
Entertaining Soldiers After the RaidEntertaining Soldiers After the Raid
Non-Fiction19170 minsSilent
Keep calm and carry on - these East End schoolkids dance to lift the spirits of Kiwi troops
Workers Leaving Kodak FactoryWorkers Leaving Kodak Factory
Non-Fiction19174 minsSilent
Workers at Kodak's photographic factory find themselves on the other side of the camera.
With the Queen at WoolwichWith the Queen at Woolwich
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent Location: Woolwich
Women workers receive a visit from Queen Mary, as she inspects their work at the munitions factory in Woolwich.
Great Red Cross Carnival at RushdenGreat Red Cross Carnival at Rushden
Non-Fiction19173 minsSilent Location: Rushden
Flags and patriotism on show in Rushden as local businesses pull out all the stops in this carnival procession.
British Airships in the EastBritish Airships in the East
Documentary19175 minsSilent
Equipped with two men and a string of bombs, the SS Class Airship was a rapid response to the threat of U-boats
Pacifists Routed at Brotherhood ChurchPacifists Routed at Brotherhood Church
Non-Fiction19171 minsSilent Location: Dalston
Windows are smashed, doors broken and blows exchanged, as a violent mob attacks a pacifist meeting held inside a Hackney church.
Parachute Experiments, Pulham Airship StationParachute Experiments, Pulham Airship Station
191714 minsSilent Location: Pulham
Soldiers of the Royal Naval Air Service make a leap of progress as new parachutes are put on trial
A Bid for FortuneA Bid for Fortune
Drama191784 minsSilent
Master criminal Dr Nikola seeks a Chinese curio that promises eternal life and world domination
Masks and FacesMasks and Faces
Historical drama191792 minsSilent
A strong cast of British stage luminaries enriches this tale of heartache and betrayal in 18th century London society
The Missing LinkThe Missing Link
Comedy19172 minsSilent
British comic Lupino Lane stars in this surviving fragment from one of his earliest films, a slapstick school romp
London: Air Raid, 1917London: Air Raid, 1917
Non-Fiction19174 minsSilent Location: City of London
Twisted metal, jagged wood and piles of rubble: the devastating aftermath of an air raid in London.
Pimple in the WhipPimple in the Whip
Comedy191722 minsSilent
Hilariously shambolic parody of an equestrian stage smash, by the prolific entertainer Pimple
Potato and Wheat Culture in EnglandPotato and Wheat Culture in England
19176 minsSilent
Man and horse work the earth to provide produce for the English plate
With the British Troops in MacedoniaWith the British Troops in Macedonia
Documentary19178 minsSilent
Troops overcome difficult terrain in this news film of the little-known WWI campaign in Macedonia
East Is EastEast Is East
Drama191771 minsSilent
Charming tale of East End lovers divided by a not so lucky windfall, with beautiful scenes in the Kent hop fields.
Red Cross FairRed Cross Fair
Non-Fiction191710 minsSilent Location: Bath
The parasols and puppet shows are out in this joyful springtime gala for Bath's Red Cross hospitals
Sea-Plane Launching ApparatusSea-Plane Launching Apparatus
19172 minsSilent
A new aluminium design for military flying boats.