The Lost Battalion | 1919 | War, Drama

Title: Lost Battalion, The | 1919 | War, Drama Director: Burton L. King. Studio: MacManus Corporation. Starring: Charles W. Whittlesey; George G. McMurtry; Robert Alexander; Helen Ferguson; Gaston Glass; Sidney D'Albrook; Bessie Learn; Marion Coakley. Release Date: September 8, 1919. Runtime: 70. Format: Silent; Black-and-White; 1.33:1. Country: United States. Language: Silent. Genres: War, Drama. --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Civilians and call-up 00:14:00 Training at camp 00:28:00 Advance into the Argonne 00:45:00 Cut off and under fire 01:02:00 Relief and homecoming --- Summary: Drafted New Yorkers of the 308th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, are introduced in civilian life, then sent to train before deploying to France. Under Lieutenant Colonel Charles W. Whittlesey, they push into the Argonne Forest during the Meuse–Argonne Offensive and are isolated deep behind German lines, enduring days without supplies while under constant attack. The narrative interweaves fictionalized home-front threads with reenactments by actual participants, culminating in the unit’s rescue and a celebratory return to New York. Themes include endurance, unit cohesion across social divides, and the costs of modern warfare. --- Background: The production was authorized by the U.S. Government, incorporated U.S. Signal Corps footage, and featured real members of the “Lost Battalion,” including Whittlesey, McMurtry, and Alexander, portraying themselves. Pre-release showings occurred July 1, 1919 and July 2, 1919 ; a Hartford premiere followed on July 28, 1919. The film was re-released by Aywon Film Corporation in 1926. --- Trivia: AFI records the work’s copyright registration by MacManus Corp. on September 6, 1919 . Lieutenant Augustus Kaiser decorated the title cards using drawings he made under fire. The film uses authentic maps, documents, and the German surrender note associated with the Argonne engagement. Cinematography is credited to Arthur A. Cadwell. The story highlights the use of carrier pigeons; in popular accounts of the battle, the pigeon Cher Ami is credited with carrying a critical message that helped halt friendly fire, a thread reflected in contemporary summaries of the film. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: September 8, 1919. Original Studio / Distributor: MacManus Corporation / W. H. Productions Company. Copyright Status: Public Domain. Renewal: Unknown. --- Hashtags: TheLostBattalion 1919 SilentFilm WorldWarI PublicDomain WarFilm MacManus BurtonLKing Source page: https: //www.loc.gov/item/2018600177/ Direct media URL: https: //tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/mbrs/ntscrm/00007929/00007929.mp4