The Battle of the Somme (Original title)
Dates: 1916 (Production), 21 August 1916 (Release)Country: United Kingdom
Synopsis: Actuality material of the Somme offensive in France during the First World War. Covers the period from 28th June to 3rd July 1916. The film concentrates on the British armed forces, in particular the men of the 7th and 29th Divisions.Shotlist: "ACTUALITY" Extracts from the first three reels of THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME showing events leading up to the attack on July 1st 1916. No title. Line of troops marching through town (probably Royal Welsh Fusiliers). Many smile at the camera. A motorcycle despatch rider passes by (17). Motorcycle with sidecar followed by four lorries arrive at a divisional gun park (42). Gunners unload boxes of shells from back of lorry (48). A field gun limber. Royal Field Artillery gunners unload the empty shellcases. More boxes of shells being unloaded from lorry (94). Soldiers at work by large pile of mortar bombs ("plum puddings") supervised by two others (120). Further scenes of loading and unloading (126). More "plum puddings" then more unloading (131). Shell explosion over open country. Barbed wire in foreground (137). More troops marching through a town (141). View of open country with trenches. An explosion (145). Troops marching through a town. Cut to more of Royal Welch Fusiliers again. Cut to other troops (184). Explosion in open country (187). Large gun with wheels and caterpillar-track fires and recoils, undercover of some trees. Seen to the side then from behind (211). Field gun firing from inside a sand-bagged emplacement. Seen from the outside and inside (250). Gunners remove camouflage (branches) from a field gun. Shot of a second such gun (269). Inside a trench parapet. Officer looks through hole in sandbags with binoculars (rear view of him) (276). Two soldiers seated. One with telephone, other calling out (287). Return to field gun at 250 ft. Levered into place, then fired (302). Closer shot of firing, unloading and firing again (328). Long shot of the guns firing (348). Smoke from an explosion over no man's land (356). Open ground with trenches (380). "Bombarding the Germans with 9.2 inch howitzers. The shells tearing up the enemy's deep dug-outs" (387). View from behind of a siege howitzer on a slope being loaded and fired. Group of soldiers look on as spectators to the left of the picture (471). Line of shells placed upright in wooded area. Some soldiers putting more up this way (490). Railway howitzer in wooded area under camoulflage. Soldiers all around. A shell is loaded. Man at the gunsight fills in a slate. Gun is then positioned right up in the air (552). Row of shells lying on the ground. One shell with message "To Willie With Compliments" being stroked by a soldier lying beside it (573). One such shell winched and loaded into 15 inch howitzer. The gun is fired and reloaded a number of times. Various shots of this. All the crew are wearing foul-weather clothing (696). Shellfire over no man's land. Various such shots (731).
Genres: War, Documentary
Subjects: Western Front (WWI), Battle of the Somme, Royal Field Artillery, Explosions, Field communications, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Field artillery, World War I, Propaganda
Releases
Date: 1916Country: United KingdomRelease type: Non-TheatricalFormat: 16mm Film - Black and White - SilentRuntime: 80 mins Length: 5000 Feet
Date: 1916Country: United KingdomRelease type: UnknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SilentAspect ratio: 1.375:1Runtime: 8 mins 30 secs - Length: 730 FeetLanguage: English
Date: 21 August 1916Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SilentAspect ratio: 1.375:1Runtime: 77 mins Language: EnglishDistributor: British Topical Committee for War Films
Date: 2016Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SilentAspect ratio: 1.375:1Runtime: 77 mins 40 secs - Length: 6990 FeetLanguage: EnglishDistributor: Imperial War Museum
Title: DVDs: The Battle of the SommeAuthor: McWILLIAMS, Donald Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
In: Sight and Sound v19 n1 January 2009 Page: 93
Title: Reviews: DVDs: The Battle of the SommeAuthor: MACNAB, Geoffrey Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
In: Film and History v38 n1 Spring 2008 Pages: 9-19
Title: Hearts and Minds and Bodies: Reconsidering the Cinematic...Author: HODGKINS, John Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: "...Language of The Battle of the Somme". Part of a whole issue on documentaries, this article examines The BATTLE OF THE SOMME, its reception, its cinematic form and style, and its significance as propaganda.
In: Film History v14 n1 2002 Pages: 11-24
Title: Reconstructing the musical arrangement for The Battle of ...Author: HAGGITH, Toby Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Places the 1916 musical arrangement into the context of war- time cinema music; describes the preparation of the music for the first screening in Belfast and then suggests some ways in which this music adds to our understanding of it.
In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television v17 n1 March 1997 Pages: 5-28
Title: Cinema, Spectatorship and Propaganda: "Battle of the Somme"Author: REEVES, Nicholas Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Analysis of the way BATTLE OF THE SOMME was received by its contemporary audience using empirical analysis of the surviving data, exploring how productive such methods can be.
In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television v15 n4 October 1995 Pages: 525-542
Title: "Bei unseren Helden an der Somme"(1916): the creation of...Author: ROTHER, Rainer Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Efforts by German government propagandists to create an answer to THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME resulted in the unsuccessful BEI USEREN HELDEN AN DER SOMME.
In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television v15 n4 October 1995 Pages: 575-580
Title: The Imperial War Museum: World War I film catalogue and...Author: CULBERT, David Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Review essay on the new Imperial War Museum catalogue of World War I holdings and the video version of THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME and it's companion THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE AND THE ADVANCE OF THE TANKS.
In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television v13 n2 June 1993 Pages: 149-168
Title: "A Wonderful Idea of the Fighting": the question of fakes...Author: SMITHER, Roger Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: About faking shots for official photographic records of war, including a detailed shot by shot analysis of the scenes that suggest dishonesty in THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME. With 6 pages of stills.
In: Imperial War Museum Review n3 1988 Pages: 4-16
Title: [Imperial War Museum Review - n3 1988: no known title]Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Article about the question of fakes in the BATTLE OF THE SOMME(1917)
In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television v5 n2 1985 Page: 165
Title: [Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television - v5 n2 1985: no known title]Language: English
Description: Noted in a discussion of British propaganda from World War One.
In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television v3 n2 October 1983 Pages: 99-115
Title: [Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television - v3 n2 October 1983: no known title]Language: English
In: The Bioscope v32 n513 10 Aug 1916 Page: 475
Title: [The Bioscope - v32 n513 10 Aug 1916: no known title]Language: English
Description: Advert.
In: The Bioscope v32 n513 10 Aug 1916 Page: 476
Title: [The Bioscope - v32 n513 10 Aug 1916: no known title]Article type: ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Review.
In: The Bioscope v32 n514 17 Aug 1916 Page: 579
Title: [The Bioscope - v32 n514 17 Aug 1916: no known title]Language: English
Description: War Minister's Letter.
In: The Bioscope v32 n514 17 Aug 1916 Page: 627
Title: [The Bioscope - v32 n514 17 Aug 1916: no known title]Language: English
Description: Musical suggestions.
Author: Grosvenor, Chris Pages: xi, 242 pages.
Title: documentary film reader: history, theory, criticism
Author: Kahana, Jonathan Pages: xviii, 1024 pages
Title: British silent cinema and the Great War
Author: HAMMOND, Michael Pages: xi, 197 p.
Title: big show: British cinema culture in the Great War 1914-1918
Author: HAMMOND, Michael Pages: xi, 304 p.
Dates: 1916 (Production), 21 August 1916 (Release)Country: United Kingdom
Synopsis: Actuality material of the Somme offensive in France during the First World War. Covers the period from 28th June to 3rd July 1916. The film concentrates on the British armed forces, in particular the men of the 7th and 29th Divisions.Shotlist: "ACTUALITY" Extracts from the first three reels of THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME showing events leading up to the attack on July 1st 1916. No title. Line of troops marching through town (probably Royal Welsh Fusiliers). Many smile at the camera. A motorcycle despatch rider passes by (17). Motorcycle with sidecar followed by four lorries arrive at a divisional gun park (42). Gunners unload boxes of shells from back of lorry (48). A field gun limber. Royal Field Artillery gunners unload the empty shellcases. More boxes of shells being unloaded from lorry (94). Soldiers at work by large pile of mortar bombs ("plum puddings") supervised by two others (120). Further scenes of loading and unloading (126). More "plum puddings" then more unloading (131). Shell explosion over open country. Barbed wire in foreground (137). More troops marching through a town (141). View of open country with trenches. An explosion (145). Troops marching through a town. Cut to more of Royal Welch Fusiliers again. Cut to other troops (184). Explosion in open country (187). Large gun with wheels and caterpillar-track fires and recoils, undercover of some trees. Seen to the side then from behind (211). Field gun firing from inside a sand-bagged emplacement. Seen from the outside and inside (250). Gunners remove camouflage (branches) from a field gun. Shot of a second such gun (269). Inside a trench parapet. Officer looks through hole in sandbags with binoculars (rear view of him) (276). Two soldiers seated. One with telephone, other calling out (287). Return to field gun at 250 ft. Levered into place, then fired (302). Closer shot of firing, unloading and firing again (328). Long shot of the guns firing (348). Smoke from an explosion over no man's land (356). Open ground with trenches (380). "Bombarding the Germans with 9.2 inch howitzers. The shells tearing up the enemy's deep dug-outs" (387). View from behind of a siege howitzer on a slope being loaded and fired. Group of soldiers look on as spectators to the left of the picture (471). Line of shells placed upright in wooded area. Some soldiers putting more up this way (490). Railway howitzer in wooded area under camoulflage. Soldiers all around. A shell is loaded. Man at the gunsight fills in a slate. Gun is then positioned right up in the air (552). Row of shells lying on the ground. One shell with message "To Willie With Compliments" being stroked by a soldier lying beside it (573). One such shell winched and loaded into 15 inch howitzer. The gun is fired and reloaded a number of times. Various shots of this. All the crew are wearing foul-weather clothing (696). Shellfire over no man's land. Various such shots (731).
Genres: War, Documentary
Subjects: Western Front (WWI), Battle of the Somme, Royal Field Artillery, Explosions, Field communications, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Field artillery, World War I, Propaganda
Releases
Date: 1916Country: United KingdomRelease type: Non-TheatricalFormat: 16mm Film - Black and White - SilentRuntime: 80 mins Length: 5000 Feet
Date: 1916Country: United KingdomRelease type: UnknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SilentAspect ratio: 1.375:1Runtime: 8 mins 30 secs - Length: 730 FeetLanguage: English
Date: 21 August 1916Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SilentAspect ratio: 1.375:1Runtime: 77 mins Language: EnglishDistributor: British Topical Committee for War Films
Date: 2016Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SilentAspect ratio: 1.375:1Runtime: 77 mins 40 secs - Length: 6990 FeetLanguage: EnglishDistributor: Imperial War Museum
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library
(15)
In: Journal of Film Preservation n79/80 May 2009 Pages: 131-133Title: DVDs: The Battle of the SommeAuthor: McWILLIAMS, Donald Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
In: Sight and Sound v19 n1 January 2009 Page: 93
Title: Reviews: DVDs: The Battle of the SommeAuthor: MACNAB, Geoffrey Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
In: Film and History v38 n1 Spring 2008 Pages: 9-19
Title: Hearts and Minds and Bodies: Reconsidering the Cinematic...Author: HODGKINS, John Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: "...Language of The Battle of the Somme". Part of a whole issue on documentaries, this article examines The BATTLE OF THE SOMME, its reception, its cinematic form and style, and its significance as propaganda.
In: Film History v14 n1 2002 Pages: 11-24
Title: Reconstructing the musical arrangement for The Battle of ...Author: HAGGITH, Toby Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Places the 1916 musical arrangement into the context of war- time cinema music; describes the preparation of the music for the first screening in Belfast and then suggests some ways in which this music adds to our understanding of it.
In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television v17 n1 March 1997 Pages: 5-28
Title: Cinema, Spectatorship and Propaganda: "Battle of the Somme"Author: REEVES, Nicholas Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Analysis of the way BATTLE OF THE SOMME was received by its contemporary audience using empirical analysis of the surviving data, exploring how productive such methods can be.
In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television v15 n4 October 1995 Pages: 525-542
Title: "Bei unseren Helden an der Somme"(1916): the creation of...Author: ROTHER, Rainer Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Efforts by German government propagandists to create an answer to THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME resulted in the unsuccessful BEI USEREN HELDEN AN DER SOMME.
In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television v15 n4 October 1995 Pages: 575-580
Title: The Imperial War Museum: World War I film catalogue and...Author: CULBERT, David Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Review essay on the new Imperial War Museum catalogue of World War I holdings and the video version of THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME and it's companion THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE AND THE ADVANCE OF THE TANKS.
In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television v13 n2 June 1993 Pages: 149-168
Title: "A Wonderful Idea of the Fighting": the question of fakes...Author: SMITHER, Roger Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: About faking shots for official photographic records of war, including a detailed shot by shot analysis of the scenes that suggest dishonesty in THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME. With 6 pages of stills.
In: Imperial War Museum Review n3 1988 Pages: 4-16
Title: [Imperial War Museum Review - n3 1988: no known title]Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Article about the question of fakes in the BATTLE OF THE SOMME(1917)
In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television v5 n2 1985 Page: 165
Title: [Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television - v5 n2 1985: no known title]Language: English
Description: Noted in a discussion of British propaganda from World War One.
In: Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television v3 n2 October 1983 Pages: 99-115
Title: [Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television - v3 n2 October 1983: no known title]Language: English
In: The Bioscope v32 n513 10 Aug 1916 Page: 475
Title: [The Bioscope - v32 n513 10 Aug 1916: no known title]Language: English
Description: Advert.
In: The Bioscope v32 n513 10 Aug 1916 Page: 476
Title: [The Bioscope - v32 n513 10 Aug 1916: no known title]Article type: ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Review.
In: The Bioscope v32 n514 17 Aug 1916 Page: 579
Title: [The Bioscope - v32 n514 17 Aug 1916: no known title]Language: English
Description: War Minister's Letter.
In: The Bioscope v32 n514 17 Aug 1916 Page: 627
Title: [The Bioscope - v32 n514 17 Aug 1916: no known title]Language: English
Description: Musical suggestions.
Books held in BFI Reuben Library
(4)
Title: Cinema on the front line: British soldiers and cinema in the First World WarAuthor: Grosvenor, Chris Pages: xi, 242 pages.
Title: documentary film reader: history, theory, criticism
Author: Kahana, Jonathan Pages: xviii, 1024 pages
Title: British silent cinema and the Great War
Author: HAMMOND, Michael Pages: xi, 197 p.
Title: big show: British cinema culture in the Great War 1914-1918
Author: HAMMOND, Michael Pages: xi, 304 p.