Ypres

Overview

In 1925, with the cooperation of the War Office, British Instructional Films set out to make a dramatic, feature-length reconstruction of the five Ypres battles in which 1.7 million soldiers lost their lives. Directed by William Summers, the result is a silent classic. Unlike the famous 1916 documentary The Battle of the Somme, the Ypres footage is entirely ”faked” and the film shares some of Somme‘s propagandist approach. Regardless, the film is no less fascinating as an artistic endeavour of its time and it features some stunning images. A degree of authenticity is provided by real soldiers taking part and by the filming having taken place in the actual Ypres trenches.

Details

Status

Released

Release date

September 30, 1925

Original language

English

Countries

United Kingdom

Production

BIF

Director

Walter Summers

Writer

Walter Summers

Producer

H. Bruce Woolfe

Budget

Not recorded

Revenue

Not recorded

IMDb

tt0016558