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THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME (1916)
with orchestral score soundtrack and live music pre-film tribute to the Great War (Graeme Costin), 74 minutes.
Tickets: $25/$20
General seating - not reserved or numbered
(T 0419 267 318)
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The first part of the session is a live music tribute by Graeme Costin.
He chose the pieces as a respectful reflection on such loss and impact for the survivors and affected families.
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“This very special film brings deeply poignant images from the great conflict to a generation a century removed from the battle. Due to its importance as a historic record, it has been recognized as a jewel in the archives of the Imperial War Museum and has become the first item of British documentary heritage to receive global recognition by being accepted for inscription in UNESCO’s Memory of the World register.
The documentary was filmed by only two cameramen at the height of the battle around 1 July 1916. This means that the footage is authentic and, for its time, very well photographed and edited. Only one brief scene in the film is a staged one, and this only done because capturing it live put the cameramen too close to harm's way.
The first screening of The Battle of the Somme in Britain took place on the 10th of August 1916, only a month after the filmed events took place and while the battle was still raging. As such, it was actually a despatch from the front for the British audience, but over the years it has become a most significant part of documented history. Its great import was that it allowed audiences to, in a sense, share the experience of soldiers on the Western Front. The public’s yearning for this connection became clearly evident when the film sold 20 million tickets and was viewed by nearly half the population, making it the most popular film ever shown in Britain.
While the rough mechanics of moving pictures began late in the 19th century, well-made films of some sophistication were being produced by 1912, evolving into what we know today as feature-length films. By 1916, hour-long movies of various genres were the norm, and people worldwide flocked to cinemas to experience this exciting new form of entertainment.
The Battle of the Somme takes the evolution of cinema one step further by recording important events, perhaps not even realizing what great historical significance it would prove to be many decades later. There is a chronological and logical progression in the scenes, which are all introduced by title cards at the beginning of each 5-10 minute segment of film footage, as was the custom at the time.
Although many scenes show cannons and weapons in action, it becomes obvious that the emphasis is on the soldiers; the human beings and fellow countrymen whose faces reflect pride and cheer, rather than fear and gloom. There is, however, also the tragic side when casualties are recovered and the wounded brought back from the front.
Preparations before attacks show various troops from all parts of the country marching to battle, enjoying an evening meal on the eve of a big battle, and later their interaction with captured enemy soldiers.
Primitive equipment and the fragility of film stock made covering the 18-mile stretch of front a daunting task for the two cameramen. In addition, it was necessary during the early days of movie picture technology to have a great deal of light, preventing the two from capturing on film the action taking place in the distance or under dark or cloudy conditions.
This fascinating film has been widely praised for its amazing front-line footage of the battle, much of which put the cameramen at great risk of becoming casualties of war themselves.
At the time of its release, there were some protests and grave concerns that audiences might see a loved one dead or wounded, but these images are only a few, and a number of them are of German soldiers killed by the relentless and aggressive British onslaught. The British government made good use of this film internationally, distributing it to allies and neutral countries to show Britain’s commitment to the war effort. Interestingly, it even inspired Germans to make a similar film a year later, namely Bei Unseren Helden an der Somme - “With Our Heroes at the Somme”
Barbara Underwood
Tickets: $25/$20
General seating - not reserved or numbered
(T 0419 267 318)
-
The first part of the session is a live music tribute by Graeme Costin.
He chose the pieces as a respectful reflection on such loss and impact for the survivors and affected families.
-
“This very special film brings deeply poignant images from the great conflict to a generation a century removed from the battle. Due to its importance as a historic record, it has been recognized as a jewel in the archives of the Imperial War Museum and has become the first item of British documentary heritage to receive global recognition by being accepted for inscription in UNESCO’s Memory of the World register.
The documentary was filmed by only two cameramen at the height of the battle around 1 July 1916. This means that the footage is authentic and, for its time, very well photographed and edited. Only one brief scene in the film is a staged one, and this only done because capturing it live put the cameramen too close to harm's way.
The first screening of The Battle of the Somme in Britain took place on the 10th of August 1916, only a month after the filmed events took place and while the battle was still raging. As such, it was actually a despatch from the front for the British audience, but over the years it has become a most significant part of documented history. Its great import was that it allowed audiences to, in a sense, share the experience of soldiers on the Western Front. The public’s yearning for this connection became clearly evident when the film sold 20 million tickets and was viewed by nearly half the population, making it the most popular film ever shown in Britain.
While the rough mechanics of moving pictures began late in the 19th century, well-made films of some sophistication were being produced by 1912, evolving into what we know today as feature-length films. By 1916, hour-long movies of various genres were the norm, and people worldwide flocked to cinemas to experience this exciting new form of entertainment.
The Battle of the Somme takes the evolution of cinema one step further by recording important events, perhaps not even realizing what great historical significance it would prove to be many decades later. There is a chronological and logical progression in the scenes, which are all introduced by title cards at the beginning of each 5-10 minute segment of film footage, as was the custom at the time.
Although many scenes show cannons and weapons in action, it becomes obvious that the emphasis is on the soldiers; the human beings and fellow countrymen whose faces reflect pride and cheer, rather than fear and gloom. There is, however, also the tragic side when casualties are recovered and the wounded brought back from the front.
Preparations before attacks show various troops from all parts of the country marching to battle, enjoying an evening meal on the eve of a big battle, and later their interaction with captured enemy soldiers.
Primitive equipment and the fragility of film stock made covering the 18-mile stretch of front a daunting task for the two cameramen. In addition, it was necessary during the early days of movie picture technology to have a great deal of light, preventing the two from capturing on film the action taking place in the distance or under dark or cloudy conditions.
This fascinating film has been widely praised for its amazing front-line footage of the battle, much of which put the cameramen at great risk of becoming casualties of war themselves.
At the time of its release, there were some protests and grave concerns that audiences might see a loved one dead or wounded, but these images are only a few, and a number of them are of German soldiers killed by the relentless and aggressive British onslaught. The British government made good use of this film internationally, distributing it to allies and neutral countries to show Britain’s commitment to the war effort. Interestingly, it even inspired Germans to make a similar film a year later, namely Bei Unseren Helden an der Somme - “With Our Heroes at the Somme”
Barbara Underwood
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SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
The Event Organisers have an obligation to implement all reasonably practical measures to ensure the health and safety of the patrons, musicians and organisers.
If you are feeling unwell, please do not enter the venue.
The latest NSW Government advice about COVID can be accessed at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19.
The Event Organisers have an obligation to implement all reasonably practical measures to ensure the health and safety of the patrons, musicians and organisers.
If you are feeling unwell, please do not enter the venue.
The latest NSW Government advice about COVID can be accessed at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19.
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Saturday 26 October 2024 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (UTC+10)
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Contact Details
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Location
Roseville Uniting Church
7 Lord Street, ROSEVILLE NSW 2069
Short walk from Roseville Station - eastern side.