Civilization
About Civilization
Count Ferdinand commands a submarine and refuses to torpedo a passenger liner. His boat is sunk in the fight that follows. In the spirit world Christ commends him and returns to earth in Ferdinand’s body to preach peace. Thomas H. Ince produced the film. Ince, Reginald Barker, and Raymond B. West directed it. C. Gardner Sullivan and Edward Sloman wrote it.
Cast & crew
More about Civilization
Wikidata also lists Jay Hunt among the directors. Howard Hickman, Enid Markey, George Fisher, Herschel Mayall, and a young John Gilbert are billed. Joseph H. August, Irvin Willat, and Devereux Jennings photographed it. Hugo Riesenfeld is the music credit. Ince is also the editor on the Wikidata credit. Publication dates include 17 April 1916 and 2 June 1916. Wikidata times a version at 78 minutes. The Library of Congress named it to the National Film Registry in 1999.
Themes
Background
It opened in the spring and summer of 1916, while the United States was still out of the European war and Wilson was running on peace.
Making
Ince built a war spectacle around one refusal: a commander who will not fire on civilians, then a body Christ uses to keep preaching.
Reviews
The scenes of Christ drew complaints that the depiction was in poor taste.
Audiences
The film was a popular success. The Democratic National Committee tied it to Wilson’s 1916 re-election.
Look
Joseph H. August, Irvin Willat, and Devereux Jennings shot the submarine and the spirit-world return.
Music
Hugo Riesenfeld is the music credit for the silent film.
Preservation
The film survives and was added to the National Film Registry in 1999.
Notes
- The Democratic National Committee credited the film with helping re-elect Woodrow Wilson in 1916.
- Christ appears as a character, one of the early films to do that.
- An Internet Archive copy is filed as silent-civilization.
- The liner is described as carrying ammunition for the other side.
Awards
- National Film Registry (1999)
Scenes
- Ferdinand refuses the order to torpedo the liner.
- The submarine goes down.
- Christ comes back in Ferdinand’s body.
Also available
- Internet Archive (silent-civilization)
