Battle Of The Somme Propaganda Analysis

There is much confusion surrounding the film The Battle of the Somme, which has arisen as a result of the recurring debate concerning both the purpose of the film itself as well as the truthfulness of its content. The first issue is that of the rationale behind the creation of the film, with one side arguing that it was created for propaganda purposes and the other arguing that it was not. The second issue is that of the authenticity and subsequent significance of the film, with one side arguing that the film offers an honest portrayal of the horrors of warfare and the other, again, arguing that it does not. In light of this debate, this essay will, through the fair analysis of both sides, critically assess whether The Battle of the Somme was indeed a British propagandist ploy aimed at bolstering support for the war effort, as well as whether the film’s reputation - for conveying the realities of warfare on film for the first time in the history of cinema - is in fact legitimate. …show more content…
Whilst some of the scenes in the film are in fact false, it would be harsh to label these scenes as the only reason behind the film’s widespread appeal. Its inclusion of some true depictions of the harsh realities of the war is what garnered it such popularity. Critics of the film, it must be said, scrupulously searched for mistakes in The Battle of the Somme simply because they were jealous of the film’s success. Many people also cried ‘fake’, in reference to several scenes, which only did the film a severe discourtesy. Then again, it could be argued that all successful feats, such as the propaganda film The Battle of the Somme, need to be nitpicked in order to ensure both their accuracy and their