Watch The Battle of the Ancre and the Advance of the Tanks

The Battle of the Ancre and the Advance of the Tanks is a silent documentary film that holds a significant place in war cinema history. The movie was released in 1917, during World War I, offering audiences a glimpse of the front lines from a British perspective. It's a piece of authentic visual history, chronicling the British Army's autumn and winter campaign on the Western Front.

Created as a sequel to the earlier film 'The Battle of the Somme,' this war documentary was produced with the intention of providing the British public with a sense of involvement and understanding of the war efforts, fostering morale and support for the troops fighting abroad. As with many films of this nature at the time, The Battle of the Ancre and the Advance of the Tanks was also a tool for war propaganda, designed partially to boost recruitment and national pride.

The film opens with scenes of the British Army preparing for the Battle of the Ancre, which was the final large British attack of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Keep in mind that the footage and pacing of such silent era films are quite different from modern-day productions. There's a raw documentary feel to the visuals, which consist of newsreel footage and staged scenes intended to provide a structured narrative.

The Battle of the Ancre captures numerous aspects of the soldiers' daily lives, including shots of soldiers in downtime, the grueling work of gun crews, the desolation of the battlefield after the battle, and the horrific reality of trench warfare. Through a compilation of these images, viewers are offered insight into the harsh conditions endured by the troops and the colossal scale of the conflict.

A significant portion of the film is dedicated to the tanks, which were still a relatively new addition to the battlefield at that time. For many viewers in 1917, this would have been their first opportunity to see the armored machines, which would come to revolutionize land warfare. The tanks, introduced by the British on the Somme in September 1916, are shown navigating the war-torn landscape, some succeeding in their missions while others are bogged down by the challenging terrain.

The film showcases the debut of tank warfare, highlighting not just their mechanical power but also the psychological impact they had on both friend and foe. The documentary includes pivotal moments where the tanks are involved in significant combat operations, offering an exciting and novel sight for contemporary audiences while also serving to demonstrate the technological advancements of the British forces.

Despite its propagandist purpose, The Battle of the Ancre and the Advance of the Tanks does not shy away from the somber realities that accompany war. There's an authenticity to the documentary as it captures the quiet moments of soldier’s lives amid the conflict with emotional resonance, offering frames of reflection that no doubt left a lasting impression on its audience. The grim aftermath of battle is not glossed over but rather presented as a testament to the sacrifices being made.

The film not only focuses on the British forces but also presents glimpses into the lives of the captured German soldiers. These scenes likely aimed to humanize the enemy to a certain extent while also illustrating the success of the British military operations. The effect of such footage served as a reassurance to the home front that progress was being made and that the enemy was not as formidable as one might fear.

Throughout the film, intertitles are used to provide context, and description, and move the narrative along. These intertitles are critical as they serve to frame the visuals for the audience, guiding their understanding and emotions in the absence of spoken dialogue or sound. The music that often accompanied screenings of the film in theaters was another important element, providing emotional cues and enhancing the dramatic effect of the footage.

Although not a full-blown feature film as we would recognize today, The Battle of the Ancre and the Advance of the Tanks is a significant historic document. It brought the war into cinemas and homes, shrinking the distance between the front and the domestic realm. It is a landmark instance of the use of film as a method of documenting and shaping public perception during times of conflict. Its preservation allows future generations to gain a better comprehension of World War I and the ways in which media was used to document, inform, and influence during this tumultuous period.

The Battle of the Ancre and the Advance of the Tanks is a 1917 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 3 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.