The Battle Cry of Peace

original title:
The Battle Cry of Peace
other titles:
The Battle Cry of War, A Call to Arms Against War
country / year of production:
USA / 1915
original length:
90 min. , black/white
premiere:
14 September 1915
genre:
Propaganda film
based on:
Hudson Maxim. Defenseless America. New York: Hearst's International Library, 1915.
director:
J. Stuart Blackton , Wilfrid North
film script:
J. Stuart Blackton , Hudson Maxim
producer:
J. Stuart Blackton
cinematographer:
Arthur T. Quinn , Leonard Smith (I)
editor:
composer:
S. L. Rothafel
cast (role):
Charles Richman (John Harrison) , L. Rogers Lytton (Mr. Emanon) , James Morrison (I) (Charley Harrison) , Mary Maurice (Mrs. Harrison) , Louise Beaudet (Mrs. Vandergriff) , Charles Richman , L. Rogers Lytton , James Morrison (I) , Mary Maurice , Louise Beaudet
more:
plot synopsis:
Enemy agents under the leadership of "Emanon" conspire with pacifists to keep the American defense appropriations down at a time when forces of the enemy are preparing to invade. The invasion comes, and New York, Washington, and other American cities are devastated.
keywords:
espionage , silent movie , invasion , civilians
war:
fictious war
literature:
remarks:
The film is a typical representative of the "preparedness"-movies, that were intended to make the American audience aware of the possible danger by an enemy invasion.

Ironically the author of book on which the film is based, Hudson Maxim, is a member of the same Maxim-family that is famous for manufactoring machine guns. Charges quickly rose that the film was made to raise munition sales.

President Roosevelt, an advocate of the preparedness-movement, convinced general Wood to lent the filmmakers 2.500 marines for the shootings.
availability: