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Civilization

  • 19151915
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
365
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Civilization (1915)
  • Drama
  • War
Christ takes on the form of a pacifist count to end a senseless war.Christ takes on the form of a pacifist count to end a senseless war.Christ takes on the form of a pacifist count to end a senseless war.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
365
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Reginald Barker
    • Thomas H. Ince
    • Raymond B. West
  • Writer
    • C. Gardner Sullivan
  • Stars
    • Howard Hickman
    • Enid Markey
    • Lola May
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Reginald Barker
    • Thomas H. Ince
    • Raymond B. West
  • Writer
    • C. Gardner Sullivan
  • Stars
    • Howard Hickman
    • Enid Markey
    • Lola May
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos12

    Civilization (1915)
    Civilization (1915)
    George Fisher in Civilization (1915)
    Civilization (1915)
    Civilization (1915)
    Civilization (1915)
    Civilization (1915)
    Civilization (1915)
    Civilization (1915)
    Civilization (1915)
    Civilization (1915)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Howard Hickman
    Howard Hickman
    • Count Ferdinandas Count Ferdinand
    Enid Markey
    Enid Markey
    • Katheryn Haldemannas Katheryn Haldemann
    Lola May
    • Queen Eugenieas Queen Eugenie
    Kate Bruce
    Kate Bruce
    • A Motheras A Mother
    J. Frank Burke
    J. Frank Burke
    • Luther Rolf - The Peace Advocateas Luther Rolf - The Peace Advocate
    Claire Du Brey
    Claire Du Brey
    George Fisher
    George Fisher
    • The Christas The Christ
    Charles K. French
    Charles K. French
    • The Prime Ministeras The Prime Minister
    Thomas H. Ince
    Thomas H. Ince
    • Self - in Prologueas Self - in Prologue
    Herschel Mayall
    Herschel Mayall
    • The King of Wredprydas The King of Wredpryd
    Fanny Midgley
    J. Barney Sherry
    J. Barney Sherry
    • The Blacksmithas The Blacksmith
    Jerome Storm
    • The Blacksmith's Sonas The Blacksmith's Son
    Ethel Ullman
    • The Blacksmith's Daughteras The Blacksmith's Daughter
    Woodrow Wilson
    Woodrow Wilson
    • Self - in Prologueas Self - in Prologue
    Virginia Getchell
    • Little Girlas Little Girl
    • (uncredited)
    John Gilbert
    John Gilbert
    • Extraas Extra
    • (uncredited)
    Alice Jorgens
    • Girlas Girl
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Reginald Barker
      • Thomas H. Ince
      • Raymond B. West
    • Writer
      • C. Gardner Sullivan
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Inspired Yasujiro Ozu to become a film director.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Moving Picture Boys in the Great War (1975)

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    A movie with a message that no one listened to.
    Believe it or not this movie was supposed to keep America out of WW1. Bankrolled by a pacifist organisation this movie was produced and at least partially directed by Thomas Ince, who is famous for producing many of William S. Hart's westerns. The king of a small European country declares war on a neighbouring land. The fact that the agressors dress like the Kaiser's German troops was lost on no one back then I am sure. Count Ferdinand invents a new type of submarine which is used to destroy ships carrying arms and supplies to enemy soldiers. He refuses to fire on lifeboats carrying innocent passengers though and sinks his own sub. This is where things go slightly out of hand. Sent to the Underworld (where the dead souls are all nude, regrettably they are also all male) he meets Jesus himself who decides the time is right to return to Earth to remind people to live in peace. Taking over Count Ferdinand's body the poor guy is almost crucified a second time before showing the King the horrors of war that he has overlooked while being safe in his palace. Alas the message of this film did not reach audiences the way it was supposed to; a year later America entered the war anyway. Many young men learned the hard way that the terrors depicted in the movie were right on the money. D.W. Griffith made an anti-war film called HEARTS OF THE WORLD but it was in release for only about 2 months when the war ended. Cecil B. DeMille got into the act too when he cast Mary Pickford as THE LITTLE AMERICAN in 1921. Thomas Ince wisely went back to doing westerns. If you want to see a silent film with a really effective anti-war message check out King Vidor's THE BIG PARADE (1924).
    helpful•8
    3
    • reptilicus
    • Jul 3, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 2, 1916 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • None
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Civilisation
    • Filming locations
      • Inceville, Santa Ynez Canyon, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Thomas H. Ince Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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