Watch Battle of the Somme

The Battle of the Somme is a silent documentary film that was released in 1916. The film captures the events of the Battle of the Somme, which was fought by the armies of the British and French against the German Empire in World War I. The film is an account of one of the bloodiest battles in human history, fought between July 1st and November 18th, 1916.

The Battle of the Somme captures the military campaign from the perspective of the British and French soldiers. The film begins with scenes of soldiers leaving England and France for the Western Front. It then showcases the preparations made by the soldiers before they begin their assault. This includes the construction of trenches, tanks and other war machinery.

The film then takes the viewer on a journey through the front lines. The battlefield scenes are captured in a raw and visceral manner. The carnage of war is evident in the scenes. The camera focuses on the soldiers fighting in the mud and amidst the barbed wires. The film captures the moments when soldiers go "over the top" and charge towards enemy lines. The viewer is exposed to the horrors of war as the violent images of men being mowed down by machine gun fire and artillery are shown.

As the film progresses, the viewer witnesses the loss of life and destruction that the battle caused. Bodies of soldiers who were killed in action are shown being buried by their comrades. Scenes of the wounded being taken away on stretchers and the dead being collected are also part of the narrative. It showcases how the battle not only affected the soldiers but also the local population.

The film makes it clear that the Battle of the Somme was not an easy victory for the Allied forces. The footage shows soldiers returning from the front lines, clearly exhausted and traumatized. The images of the devastated landscape and destroyed villages bring home the reality of the destruction that occured during the battle.

The camera work in the movie is phenomenal considering it was shot during the war. The closeup shots of the soldiers show their emotions and expressions. The aerial shots provided a bird's eye view of the battlefield and showcased the scale of destruction as the camera zooms in on the ground. The camera work also captured the geography of the land that was being fought over.

The Battle of the Somme's musical score was added in later years as it was originally screened in silence. The musical score provides an emotional context and brings a sense of pathos to the scenes. The music complements the visuals well and adds another layer to the movie. It adds to the overall sense of loss that the movie conveys.

In conclusion, The Battle of the Somme is an important historical documentary that offers valuable insight into the battles that took place during World War I. It captures the brutality of war in a way that only footage can. It brings to life the experiences of the soldiers who fought in the battle which is often underrepresented in history books. The film is a testament to the bravery and the sacrifice made by the soldiers of the Allied forces. It is a sobering look at the consequences of war and its effects on the soldiers and the local population.

Battle of the Somme is a 1916 documentary with a runtime of 47 minutes.