The Battle Cry of Peace

The Battle Cry of Peace
Directed by Wilfrid North
J. Stuart Blackton
Written by J. Stuart Blackton (scenario)
Based on Defenseless America
by Hudson Maxim
Music by S. L. Rothapfel
S. M. Berg
Ivan Rudisill
Cinematography Leonard Smith
Arthur T. Quinn
Production
company
Distributed by V-L-S-E
Release dates
 September 14, 1915
Running time
 90 minutes
Country United States
Language Silent
English intertitles
Scene from the film.

The Battle Cry of Peace is a 1915 American silent war drama 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 the conglomerate of Vitagraph-Lubin-Selig-Essanay (V-L-S-E). The film stars Charles Richman, L. Rogers Lytton, and James W. Morrison.[1]

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.

The majority of the film is now considered lost.[2] Fragments of footage of battle scenes survive and are housed at the George Eastman House.[3]

Plot

In a war-torn world, enemies of the United States use pacifists as pawns to make sure that the United States does not spend too much on defense. Then the enemies attack and take over the country.

Significance

Upon its release, the film generated a controversy rivaling that of 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 persuaded Gen. Leonard Wood to lend Blackton an entire regiment of marines to use as extras.[4]

Cast

References

  1. ↑ Moving Picture Exhibitors' Association (1915). The Moving Picture World, Volume 25, Issues 4-6. Chalmers Publishing Company. p. 795.
  2. ↑ The Battle Cry of Peace at TheGreatStars.com; Lost Film Files
  3. ↑ The Battle Cry of Peace at silentera.com
  4. ↑ Magill's Survey of Silent Films, Vol.l A-FLA p.175 edited by Frank N. Magill c.1982 ISBN 0-89356-240-8 (3 book set ISBN 0-89356-239-4) Retrieved December 11, 2014


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