Collection search - Across the Battlefields in France and Flanders

Record information – Brief

1

Across the Battlefields in France and Flanders

Item number (ISN):

25422

Series title:

In Action : The Canadians = [Canadian War Records. Ypres Salient]

Hierarchical level:

Item (Accession level)

Date:

1917

Item number (ISN):

25422

Type of material:

Moving images

Found in:

Archives / Film, Video and Sound

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Record information – Details

Fonds/collection:

CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION: CANADIAN FILM INSTITUTE

Accession:

1972-0108

Media:

Film

Part:

1 of 1

Production date:

1917

Description:

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First World War documentary created for Canadian audiences with shots from several British productions. Footage primarily focuses on trench life around Ypres circa 1915-1916.~“Here in the muddy fields of Ypres commenced the state of siege - trench warfare.” Shot of muddy trenches surrounding Ypres. Supplies move forward in wagons covered with mud. “Where to show a head meant death. An artillery officer directs the fire of his battery.” Soldier with a periscope looks over a trench while another takes notes and an officer directs artillery fire by phone. Shots of artillery guns hidden in trees firing. “They fought with an inflexible courage while they faced the first rigours of winter…” In the trenches a soldier lights a brazier while others walk by on duckboards. “…and then came days of ceaseless rain…the land was changed to a sea of mud, and existence became a horror even to the bravest.” Soldiers take shelter while others try to clear away some of the water. “The noblest manhood of our race responded to the divine impulse which sought in sacrifice to prove that they who lay down their lives for the right do not die, but pass to immortality.” Grave markers across a battlefield. A soldier chips away at the mud with a pick-axe. “It was a silence that was heard only of God.” A very clean white cross "to an unknown British hero". “Ypres - The Shell-Shattered City of Flanders.” “General panorama of the city.” A panorama of the damage to Ypres, February 1916. “The remains of the Grande Palace (City Square).” Views of the main square taken from the area of Hellfire Corner. “All that remains of the Cloth Hall.” The Cloth Hall, most of it still intact. “The exterior of the Cathedral.” Exterior of the cathedral. “The western door.” “The interior of the Cathedral.” Shot of the interior. Broken organ. “Left behind amidst the ruins.” An abandoned cat crawls through the ruins. “From far above, the eyes of the Army always watched with incalculable patience.” A Fokker plane taxi's away to flight. “A fight in the air was always surcharge with dramatic incidents.” A Fokker shoots down an observation balloon. The observer parachutes to safety. “A Fokker having destroyed an observation balloon an anti-aircraft unit gives pursuit and…” The Fokker is spotted using a telescope and a Thorneycroft armoured car goes out after it. The car stops and fires. The Fokker is shot down and is seen burning on the ground. “After persistent striving brings the enemy plane to earth.” Shot of the burning plane. “Then in the silence of eventide our machine returns home to a well earned repose. A bi-plane lands and approaches a hanger '2287'.

Language:

Silent with English intertitles

Notes:

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1. Shot of the cross from the Battlefields of Neuve Chapelle (see Imperial War Museum description IWM 211).~2. Shots of Ypres and the Cloth Hall from YPRES : THE SHELL SHATTERED CITY OF FLANDERS (see Imperial War Museum description IWM 206).~3. Given the 90-year rule, this title was under copyright until 31 December 2007.~4. Given this is comprised of material from several British productions, there may have been multiple copyright owners.~5. The two identified segments were produced by the British Topical Committee for War Films for the War Office and filmed by Geoffery H. Malins or Edward G. Tong. The copyright on these segments would probably have originally rested with the British Crown.~6. Copyright on the other segments or the entire production is unknown.~7. See also IDC 56769, 284418, 257297.~8. Identical in content to CFI-5256/A (IDC 257297.
Ordering and viewing options

Conditions of access:

Open

Consultation copy number:

V1 2000-05-0013

Restrictions on consultation:

~No Restrictions / Pas de restrictions

Donor restrictions:

No donor restrictions.

Copyright status:

Copyright expired.

Copyright owner:

Original copyright owner was probably the British government.~If so, copyright may now rest with the Imperial War Museum.

Reproduction access:

To be Determined / À déterminer

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Date modified:: 2024-07-04