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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
More Than An Interesting Curio., August 28, 2001
This review is from: Civilization [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Released several months before D.W. Griffith's INTOLERANCE, Thomas H. Ince's large scale production CIVILIZATION was the cry for peace that worked (at least temporarily). It is credited with helping Woodrow Wilson win reelection in 1916 for keeping America out of World War I. This rather heavy handed allegory of a kingdom brought to ruin as a result of war did turn out to be remarkably prophetic. What makes the film so fascinating today are its Dante like depictions of Heaven and Hell with Jesus himself acting as the guide. Producer Ince and directors Raymond B. West and Reginald Barker spared no expense in depicting the horrors of war. The battle scenes are large scale and the brutality is shocking. If the acting is sometimes over the top remember this was meant to be a "message" picture. Subtle it isn't. CIVILIZATION is much more than an interesting curio and is definitely worth seeing. My biggest complaint is with the original 1916 piano score by Victor Schertzinger which is reproduced on this video. It seems trite and surprisingly inappropriate for the intensity of the film's story although the orchestral score may have worked better. Schertzinger, a capable musician and director, is best remembered today for making the early ROAD pictures with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. However a newer, darker score like Ennio Morricone's for RICHARD III would have made this film much more effective. It just goes to show how important a musical score can be especially for a silent film. It is interesting to note that CIVILIZATION was a box office success while INTOLERANCE a better film on a similar theme would fail at the box office after the U.S. entered the war. This video is one of five from Kino International's FIRST AMERICAN FEATURES:1912-1918 series.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Thomas Ince's Antiwar Epic, February 14, 2010
Released shortly before America entered World War I, producer Thomas Ince's "Civilization" (1916) was an ambitious, partially successful attempt to match the artistry and scale of D.W. Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation." By incorporating religious symbolism with social commentary, Ince and director Raymond West crafted a film that struck a responsive chord with the audiences of its day. However, once America became involved in the war, "Civilization" was withdrawn from circulation. Despite its historic significance, Ince's pacifist epic languished in obscurity until recent years. Though marred by weak acting and dated melodrama, the picture remains of historic interest for its antiwar sentiments and religious message. "Civilization" did not prevent America from going to war, but it did help the country find a spiritual and moral unity during that turbulent period.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A strong, spectacular sermon against the tragedy and wastefulness of war!, January 30, 2009
This review is from: Civilization [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Two blockbuster films with a pacifist message were released in 1916, Thomas Ince's 'Civilization' and Herbert Brenon's 'War Brides.' Both were very popular and preached a strong anti-war message... They have often been cited as having helped to re-elect Woodrow Wilson on a peace platform... The hero of 'Civilization' is a submarine commander who refuses to torpedo a passenger vessel because he is secretly a devoted follower of the pacifist Mothers of Men Society... He is murdered by the mutinous crew and his soul is eventually redeemed by Christ... Jesus then assumes the dead man's form to plead the cause of peace before the king... He is successful and the king hastens to recall his soldiers...
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