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The Battle Cry of Peace
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = The Battle Cry of Peace
| image = Battle-Cry-of-Peace-still.jpg
| caption = John Harrison (Charles Richman) and Virginia Vandergriff (Norma Talmadge) face enemy leader Emanon (L. Rogers Lytton) while Virginia's mother and sister fearfully view an enemy soldier in 'The Battle Cry of Peace'.
| director = Wilfrid North
J. Stuart Blackton
| producer = J. Stuart Blackton
| based_on =
| writer = J. Stuart Blackton (scenario)
| starring =
| music = S. L. Rothapfel
S. M. Berg
Ivan Rudisill
| cinematography = Leonard Smith
Arthur T. Quinn
| studio = Vitagraph Company of America
| distributor = V-L-S-E, Incorporated
| released =
| runtime = 90 minutes
| country = United States
| language = Silent
English intertitles
}}
' (1916)
'The Battle Cry of Peace' is a 1915 American silent War film directed by Wilfrid North and J. Stuart Blackton, one of the founders of Vitagraph Company of America who also wrote the scenario. The film is based on the book 'Defenseless America', by Hudson Maxim, and was distributed by V-L-S-E, Incorporated. The film stars Charles Richman, L. Rogers Lytton, and James W. Morrison.
Alternate titles for this film were 'A Call to Arms' and 'The Battle Cry of War'. In the UK, the film was called 'An American Home'. A sequel followed in 1917, 'Womanhood, the Glory of the Nation'.
Plot
In a war-torn world, Enemy agents under the leadership of "Emanon" conspire with pacifists to keep the American defense appropriations down at a time when forces of the enemy are preparing to invade. The invasion comes, and New York, Washington, and other American cities are devastated and the enemies take over the country
Book version
In the same year, J. Stuart Blackton published the book version of 'The Battle Cry of Peace' with pictures from the film version. The book has nothing to do with 'Defenseless America' by Hudson Maxim.
Significance
Upon its release, the film generated a controversy rivaling that of 'The Birth of a Nation' because it was considered to be militaristic propaganda. Producer Stuart Blackton believed that the US should join the Allies involved in World War I overseas, and that was why he made the film. Former President Theodore Roosevelt was one of the film's staunchest supporters, and he persuaded Gen. Leonard Wood to lend Blackton an entire regiment of Marines to use as extras.'Magill's Survey of Silent Films', Vol. l A-FLA p.175 edited by Frank N. Magill c.1982 (3 book set ) Retrieved December 11, 2014
Production
The film was released by VLSE Incorporated [A Blue Ribbon Feature] and premiered in New York on August 6, 1915, at the Vitagraph Theater (formerly the Criterion Theater). The film is also known under the title 'A Call to Arms Against War' or 'The Battle Cry of War'. The copyright, requested by The Vitagraph Co. of America, was registered on November 10, 1915, under number LP6935.
In the UK, the film was released as An American Home. In 1917, a sequel was made to 'Womanhood, the Glory of the Nation' which was directed by William P. S. Earle alongside James Stuart Blackton. In Italy, it was initially censored in August 1916, but managed to obtain clearance for distribution in February 1917; it was distributed by the Lombard Monopoly.
In 1917, when the United States entered the war, the film was reissued in a modified version which was given the title 'The Battle Cry of War'.
Cast
* Charles Richman John Harrison
* L. Rogers Lytton Mr. Emanon
* James W. Morrison Charley Harrison
* Mary Maurice Mrs. Harrison
* Louise Beaudet Mrs. Vandergriff
* Harold Hubert John Vandergriff
* Jack Crawford Poet Scout
* Charles Kent The Master
* Julia Swayne Gordon Magdalen
* Belle Bruce Alice Harrison
* Norma Talmadge Virginia Vandergriff
* Lucille Hammill Dorothy Vandergriff
* Evart Overton Vandergriff's son
* George Stevens Butler
* Thais Lawton Columbia
* Lionel Braham The War Monster
* William J. Ferguson Abraham Lincoln
* Paul Scardon Ulysses S. Grant
* Joseph Kilgour George Washington
Status
The majority of the film is now considered lost. The Cinemateket-Svenska Filminstitutet possesses one reel. Fragments of footage of battle scenes survive and are housed at the George Eastman House.[http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/B/BattleCryOfPeace1915.html 'The Battle Cry of Peace' at silentera.com]
See also
* Womanhood, the Glory of the Nation
* List of incomplete or partially lost films
* Invasion literature
References
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