The First World War and Popular Cinema

Book excerpt: A comparative analysis of how World War I has been remembered in film. It looks at how national cinemas were mobilised as part of the war effort and at how, subsequently, film makers shaped the memory and legacy of the war in later years. It then takes a comparative approach with case studies on Britain, the United States and Russia, and includes essays which examine the film production of other combatant nations: Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Canada and Poland. The films examined include: All Quiet on the Western Front, Gallipoli, J'Accuse, The Grand Illusion, The Big Parade, Westfront 1918 and Regeneration, as well as lesser-known titles from the period 1920 to 1990.