The Log of the U-35 | 1920 | Documentary, War

Title: The Log of the U-35 | 1920 | Documentary, War Director: Hans Brenner. Studio: Königlich Preußisches Bild- und Filmamt . Starring: Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière . Runtime: 27. Format: Silent, black-and-white, 35mm, 1.33:1, English intertitles. Country: Germany, United Kingdom. Language: Silent . Genres: Documentary, War, Propaganda. --- Summary: A wartime documentary compiled from footage shot aboard the German submarine U-35 during patrols between March and May 1917, this film presents the boarding, evacuation, and sinking of Allied merchant vessels in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic. Intertitles identify ships and cargoes and underscore the “bloodless” nature of the operations as crews abandon ship before scuttling or gunfire. Re-edited for British and American audiences after the Armistice, the film offers a rare above-decks view of World War I submarine warfare, emphasizing routine procedures, deck-gun actions, and encounters at sea rather than submerged combat. --- Background: Originally released in Germany as Der magische Gürtel , the material was reshaped in Britain into The Exploits of a German Submarine and later circulated in the United States under the title The Log of the U-35 on a state-rights basis in 1920. Surviving versions differ in length and emphasis; the British cut runs about 33 minutes, while a 1920 U.S. advertisement promoted a 27-minute edition. --- Trivia: U-35’s longest-serving commander, Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, is widely regarded as the most successful submarine captain in history by tonnage, credited with sinking roughly 194 ships during World War I. Named ships seen or referenced in the film include Parkgate, Maplewood, India, Stromboli, Corfu, Nentmoor, and the schooner Miss Morris, illustrating the range of merchant targets encountered during the patrol. The British adaptation concludes with postwar scenes of surrendered German U-boats at Harwich, including Arnauld de la Perière’s later command, U-139. A contemporary American trade advertisement from January 31, 1920, promoted the film as “Exploits of the German Submarine U-35” and “The Log of the U-35,” noting a 27-minute running time. Elements of both the German original and the British re-edit survive in archives; the Imperial War Museums hold material from each, and Silent Era reports surviving British and U.S. versions. --- Hashtags: PublicDomain SilentFilm Documentary WorldWarI UBoat NavalHistory ArchiveFilm