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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 Do No Mischief Here Can Satan Find for Idle Hands to Do
1917 1 mins Silent
Pathe's series on WWI turns its eye homeward in this edition about the interning of enemy aliens
The Production of a Map The Production of a Map
Non-Fiction 1917 7 mins Silent
Worlds within worlds: a maps and globes factory, expertly charted on celluloid
Metropolitan Police Ambulance Team Metropolitan Police Ambulance Team
1917 18 mins Silent
Metropolitan Police officers demonstrate their paramedic skills in this early training film
History of the War: The Birth Place of the Great War History of the War: The Birth Place of the Great War
1917 7 mins Silent
Episode of Pathé's series on WWI, focused on the outbreak of hostilities between Austria and Serbia
Mighty Atoms Mighty Atoms
1917 8 mins Silent
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 2 Mrs. Cooper's Film No 2
Amateur film 1917 26 mins Silent
Can film fight? In this fascinating amateur footage, King George sends officers to the front with reels and projectors
Empire Troops Empire Troops
1917 3 mins Silent
The might of the British Empire is mobilised for war during 1914 and 1915.
Carrying On in Blackpool Carrying On in Blackpool
Non-Fiction 1917 2 mins Silent Location: Blackpool
What a carry on! Grown-ups and nippers alike enjoy some seaside fun at Blackpool
Women Unloading Railway Trucks Women Unloading Railway Trucks
Non-Fiction 1917 2 mins Silent
Sprucely dressed women set themselves to lugging tarpaulin and unloading sacks in this WWI newsreel
Alps Alps
Travelogue 1917 3 mins Silent
This scrapbook travelogue takes a pictorial tour of the Alps by train, sledge and sleigh
Aldershot Command Gazette Aldershot Command Gazette
1917 6 mins Silent
King George V and Queen Mary review activities at Aldershot, Hampshire - Britain's largest military training camp
History of the War: Russian Front History of the War: Russian Front
1917 4 mins Silent
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
War 1917 23 mins Silent Location: London
Lively blood and thunder yarn in which German spies try to destroy London's air defences
History of the War: Ypres History of the War: Ypres
1917 1 mins Silent
Tantalising fragment from Pathé's History of the War series, looking at the battle of Ypres
King's Maundy Money King's Maundy Money
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent
King George V hands out the traditional silver coins to the poor on Maundy Thursday.
Lowering Torpedo into Submarine E. 23 Lowering Torpedo into Submarine E. 23
1917 7 mins Silent
The improved E class submarine, E.23, takes on fresh torpedoes for another stealth mission in this WWI news film
Primeminister at Bath Primeminister at Bath
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent 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 Wales Italian and Greek Troops in Action: Italians Decorated by Prince of Wales
Documentary 1917 7 mins Silent
Mysterious unidentified footage of troops in WW1 featuring a glimpse of Edward, Prince of Wales
Wreck of L. 39 Wreck of L. 39
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent
French soldiers guard the wreck of the L.39 Zeppelin, brought down by Brought down in the Boulevard Gambetta, Compiegne
Lines of Communication Lines of Communication
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent
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 Day St. David's Day
Non-Fiction 1917 0 mins Silent Location: Westminster
Welsh ladies selling St David's Day flags on the streets of Westminster brighten many a soldier's day.
United Service Sports United Service Sports
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent
Army athletes compete for glory on foot and bike.
Will There Be Women MPs? Will There Be Women MPs?
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent Location: London
The leading organisation fighting for women's suffrage changes tack, as Christabel and Emmeline Pankhurst launch the Women's Party.
Potato Philanthropist Potato Philanthropist
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent
An East End celebrity hides in a hamper with some much-needed food for the women of the home front
Peter's Picture Poems Peter's Picture Poems
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1917 3 mins Silent
A star-spangled sock on the nose for Kaiser Wilhelm, as this wordplay propaganda cartoon meets war crimes with pun-ishment
Nation's Food - Meat Nation's Food - Meat
1917 8 mins Silent
Where's the beef? The exotic origins of the British Sunday roast are explored in this short film about meat
Potato Queues Potato Queues
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent
The humble spud is the star attraction for the long lines of people waiting to fortify their wartime Sunday lunches
Sports on the Ice Sports on the Ice
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent
Nannies and nippers compete with seasoned skaters on a frozen pond near London in this charming wintery newsreel.
Toboganning Toboganning
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent
Hitting the north London slopes for some snow-filled excitement
Troops Training for the First World War Troops Training for the First World War
1917 9 mins Silent
O Canada! Away from their native land, these troops are prepared for the Western Front at a Canadian Training School
Everybody's Business Everybody's Business
Government sponsored film 1917 30 mins Silent
"Eat less bread" is the key message in this ambitious propaganda film on the importance of 'food economy' to the war effort
Porte Flying Boat Porte Flying Boat
Documentary 1917 11 mins Silent
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 Mast Airship on a Mooring Mast
1917 7 mins Silent
High winds are not good for airships, especially when moored: this study demonstrates what happens when the winds blow
Agitated Adverts Agitated Adverts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1917 10 mins Silent
Anson Dyer imagines the characters behind newspaper adverts and brings them to life in this Kine Komedy Kartoon
Drumhead Service Drumhead Service
Non-Fiction 1917 0 mins Silent 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)
Documentary 1917 14 mins Silent
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 Today Motherhood; A Living Picture of Life Today
1917 29 mins Silent
"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 Fleet His Majesty's Visit to His Grand Fleet
Documentary 1917 9 mins Silent
Official film of George V's visit to his Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow, Orkney
The King's Tour Round the Napier Motor Works The King's Tour Round the Napier Motor Works
1917 6 mins Silent
George V checks the new-fangled "aero engines" are up to scratch in a West London factory
Entertaining Soldiers After the Raid Entertaining Soldiers After the Raid
Non-Fiction 1917 0 mins Silent
Keep calm and carry on - these East End schoolkids dance to lift the spirits of Kiwi troops
Workers Leaving Kodak Factory Workers Leaving Kodak Factory
Non-Fiction 1917 4 mins Silent
Workers at Kodak's photographic factory find themselves on the other side of the camera.
With the Queen at Woolwich With the Queen at Woolwich
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent 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 Rushden Great Red Cross Carnival at Rushden
Non-Fiction 1917 3 mins Silent 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 East British Airships in the East
Documentary 1917 5 mins Silent
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 Church Pacifists Routed at Brotherhood Church
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent 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 Station Parachute Experiments, Pulham Airship Station
1917 14 mins Silent Location: Pulham
Soldiers of the Royal Naval Air Service make a leap of progress as new parachutes are put on trial
A Bid for Fortune A Bid for Fortune
Drama 1917 84 mins Silent
Master criminal Dr Nikola seeks a Chinese curio that promises eternal life and world domination
Masks and Faces Masks and Faces
Historical drama 1917 92 mins Silent
A strong cast of British stage luminaries enriches this tale of heartache and betrayal in 18th century London society
The Missing Link The Missing Link
Comedy 1917 2 mins Silent
British comic Lupino Lane stars in this surviving fragment from one of his earliest films, a slapstick school romp
London: Air Raid, 1917 London: Air Raid, 1917
Non-Fiction 1917 4 mins Silent Location: City of London
Twisted metal, jagged wood and piles of rubble: the devastating aftermath of an air raid in London.
Pimple in the Whip Pimple in the Whip
Comedy 1917 22 mins Silent
Hilariously shambolic parody of an equestrian stage smash, by the prolific entertainer Pimple
Potato and Wheat Culture in England Potato and Wheat Culture in England
1917 6 mins Silent
Man and horse work the earth to provide produce for the English plate
With the British Troops in Macedonia With the British Troops in Macedonia
Documentary 1917 8 mins Silent
Troops overcome difficult terrain in this news film of the little-known WWI campaign in Macedonia
East Is East East Is East
Drama 1917 71 mins Silent
Charming tale of East End lovers divided by a not so lucky windfall, with beautiful scenes in the Kent hop fields.
Red Cross Fair Red Cross Fair
Non-Fiction 1917 10 mins Silent Location: Bath
The parasols and puppet shows are out in this joyful springtime gala for Bath's Red Cross hospitals
Sea-Plane Launching Apparatus Sea-Plane Launching Apparatus
1917 2 mins Silent
A new aluminium design for military flying boats.