This is an interesting look at how Hollywood first influenced anti-war feelings prior to the United States entering WWI, and how it then turned on a dime and whipped up patriotic fervor after the Americans entered the war.
In the anti-war camp there was "Intolerance", and Ince's "Civilization". Wilson credited the latter film in helping him win reelection since his campaign slogan was "He Kept Us Out of War". But only a month after his second inauguration the USA did enter WWI. At that time pro war and anti German feelings were fanned both by American feature films and by the stars themselves such as Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and Charlie Chaplin who made war bond tours.
After the war, Americans were sick of pro and anti war films alike, and they were not made again until 1925's Big Parade which catapulted John Gilbert to a short lived stardom - the talkies would kill his career although that did take several years. This film took a more realistic look at how soldiers' eyes are all starry eyed and full of glory going into war, but the reality of it is something grim and often maiming. Even "All Quiet On The Western Front" is mentioned as being in the same category. That is because there was both a silent and sound version released. The anti-war perspective in these later films lasted until 1940. The feeling that WWI had accomplished nothing that is reflected in these later films is the reason the USA and most of western Europe wanted nothing to do with fighting Germany again until it was almost too late.
One film that I thought sounded fascinating but has been unfortunately lost was 1915's Battle Cry of Peace. It was about the United States army being overwhelmed by a foreign invader on its own soil. The clips that remain and were shown as part of this episode really made me wish it was around today.
