This film is part of Free
Shower Baths in the Trenches
A humble scrub is all it takes to get these French troops in a lather.
Overview
In their quest to keep public spirits up, newsreels looked to illustrate the lighter side of war. The comic quality of this report stems from the French soldiers' supreme ease with the camera as they get their wash-down - how Gallic! But there's also a poignancy to the men's delight at this simple pleasure - while the patchy film quality suggests haste, and the gloomy closeness of the front line.
Taking a shower on the front line would have been quite an ask. But it seems you could at least take a shower to the front line. Trench hygiene was dismal, but as this film looks to show, the efforts of the Sanitary Corps meant improvements in both conditions and troop morale. The Frenchmen jostle and play up for the crew - although, given that the images would have been shot at the height of winter, the tomfoolery probably also helped keep them warm.
Related
The Austrian Tragedy The Austrian Tragedy
Non-Fiction 1914 2 mins Silent
A muted newsreel tribute to Austria's Archduke Franz Ferdinand - victim of an assassin's bullet in an event that would soon take Europe to war.
Bully Boy Bully Boy
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1914 6 mins Silent
Lightning sketch propaganda stirs outrage about Reims bombing, and features a British bulldog eating the German sausage
The Warrior Strain The Warrior Strain
War 1920 52 mins Silent
Young Lord Billy sniffs out sneaky German marauders in this flag-waving war drama - thrills for British boys, 1919-style.
Funeral at the Front Funeral at the Front
Non-Fiction 1915 1 mins Silent
Sombre and moving World War I newsreel story.
Christmas at the Front Christmas at the Front
Non-Fiction 1914 1 mins Silent
Poignant scenes of Allied troops enjoying their Yuletide rations at the first Christmas of WWI.
Battle Front in Britain Battle Front in Britain
Documentary 1918 24 mins Silent
Growing potatoes in Green Park plus some handy uses for your old tin cans – it’s all part of the war effort on the home front.
Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.
Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.
Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.
Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.
Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.
Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.