The Battle Cry of Peace
| The Battle Cry of Peace | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 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 |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | V-L-S-E |
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Release date
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September 14, 1915 |
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Running time
|
90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent English intertitles |
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.
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. Fragments of footage of battle scenes survive and are housed at the George Eastman House.
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.
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 he persuaded Gen. Leonard Wood to lend Blackton an entire regiment of marines to use as extras.
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