The Somme

The Somme

1930 · 102 min · ★ 9.0 · Documentary, Drama, War

The Somme (also: The Tomb of the Millions) is the title of a silent documentary drama that Heinz Paul realized in 1930 for the Cando-Film Berlin based on his own script. Paul supplemented scenes with German actors with documentary footage from archive material of German, French and English origin. - Twelve years after the end of the First World War, Heinz Paul records the battle of the Somme in 1916 with original recordings, with over one million dead, the most lossy battle of the war. The archive images are supplemented by game scenes of a German mother who loses her three sons and by trailing front scenes. The Battle of the Somme, in which Allied troops bombarded the German front line, resulted in a months-long war of position. In documentary style, the film shows scenes of the most devastating battle of the First World War. It is narrated from the perspective of a mother who loses her three sons in battle.

Directed by Heinz Paul · Written by Heinz Paul

Your Rating

Cast

Make it a double feature

3h 29m together

The Somme

The Other Side

Both from Heinz Paul.

More from Heinz PaulSee all →

Des Lebens WürfelspielDes Lebens Würfelspiel · 1925
Des Lebens Würfelspiel
9.01925
Movie
a silent movie by Heinz Paul
Immortal MelodiesImmortal Melodies · 1935
Immortal Melodies
9.01935
MovieDrama
Vienna, Austria, late 1870s. After suffering an irreparable misfortune, the Austrian composer Johann Strauss Jr. (1825-99), the Waltz King, falls in love with a ballet dancer, which disappoints the famous operetta singer Marie Geistinger…
Die WarenhausprinzessinDie Warenhausprinzessin · 1926
Die Warenhausprinzessin
8.01926
Movie
a silent movie by Heinz Paul
Das Hermännchen. Nee, nee, was es nich' alles gibtDas Hermännchen. Nee, nee, was es nich' alles gibt · 1936
Das Hermännchen. Nee, nee, was es nich' alles gibt
8.01936
MovieComedy
Hans, Karl and Rudi haven't had much luck in their lives so far. One day, Hans receives a letter from his aunt Gudula. She demands that he reanimate her little theatre "Euterpia" in Büllesheim and threatens to disinherit him if he doesn't manage to outcompete her competitor, Wengen, from the theatre "Thalia". In addition, niece Hilde is sent to Büllesheim to support Hans.
Comrades at SeaComrades at Sea · 1938
Comrades at Sea
7.21938
MovieWar
1936: Fahnrich Peter serves on a torpedo boat. Peter loves Carmita, the pretty sister of a fellow seaman. But then his superior officer falls in love with her, too, who offers to marry Carmita and who accepts. Disappointed, Peter's relationship to his superior turns sour, but eventually improves after recognition of his heroic behaviour handling a fire on board his ship. Later on, his unit is sent off to fight in Spain against the Reds. In those same waters, Carmita and her father are taken prisoner by the Communists when they commandeer their cruise ship. Peter's commander receives the order not to take action against the Spanish communist pirates, but Peter and his buddies take it upon themselves to take the situation in hand. However, Peter and his buddies find themselves prisoners of the Commies, too and now his superior must decide what to do about it.
The Other SideThe Other Side · 1931
The Other Side
7.01931
MovieWarDrama
The First World War. The young, English Lieutenant Raleigh is sent to the company of a disillusioned Captain Stanhope. Stanhope is secretly engaged to Raleigh's sister and is intent on protecting his image of an exemplary officer. An attack on the German lines, in which Raleigh also takes part, has turned into a bloody fiasco. Now Raleigh, too, knows the horrors of war, which have already taken their toll on Stanhope.
TannenbergTannenberg · 1932
Tannenberg
7.01932
MovieWar
Shortly after the outbreak of World War I August 1914, Eastern Front. The Russian surprise attack on the northeasternmost part of the country causes serious problems for the German defenders.
U 9 WeddigenU 9 Weddigen · 1927
U 9 Weddigen
7.01927
MovieDramaWar
a silent war movie by Heinz Paul
Wo der Wildbach rauschtWo der Wildbach rauscht · 1956
Wo der Wildbach rauscht
6.51956
MovieDrama
The young farmer Andrä has fallen madly in love with the maid Maria. But she marries the son of the mayor. When Andrä meets the newlywed in the mountains and the latter falls into the depths after an argument, a murder charge is brought - but no one but Andrä knows the truth
Circus LifeCircus Life · 1931
Circus Life
6.51931
MovieCrimeMystery
Circus themed films usually provides a thrilling drama. The relatively obscure "Schatten der Manege" provides just what you'd expect. Doing the trapeze act angle, combining it with romance and jealousy for a darker plot, it has a lot of the right the ingredients. Does have moments where it spends too long of circus footage, which ruins some of the pacing, but otherwise a fine circus flick.
Hula-Hopp, ConnyHula-Hopp, Conny · 1959
Hula-Hopp, Conny
6.21959
MovieMusicComedy
Miracle of FlightMiracle of Flight · 1935
Miracle of Flight
6.21935
MovieDrama
A young German boy meets his hero, a famous flying ace, and dreams of becoming a pilot. However, his mother--whose husband was a fighter pilot killed in battle during World War I--does not want to lose her son, too, and tries to persuade him to abandon his dreams of flying.
Marriage in Name OnlyMarriage in Name Only · 1930
Marriage in Name Only
5.01930
MovieRomanceDrama
a movie by Heinz Paul
Die Frau von gestern und morgenDie Frau von gestern und morgen · 1928
Die Frau von gestern und morgen
1928
MovieDrama

More Like This

A Farewell to ArmsA Farewell to Arms · 1932
A Farewell to Arms
6.11932
MovieDramaRomance
A tale of the World War I love affair, begun in Italy, between American ambulance driver Lt. Frederic Henry and British nurse Catherine Barkley. Eventually separated by Frederic's transfer, tremendous challenges and difficult decisions face each as the war rages on.
BigglesBiggles · 1986
Biggles
5.21986
MovieActionFamily
Unassuming catering salesmen Jim Ferguson falls through a time hole to 1917 where he saves the life of dashing Royal Flying Corps pilot James "Biggles" Bigglesworth after his photo recon mission is shot down. Before he can work out what has happened, Jim is zapped back to the 1980s......
Testament of YouthTestament of Youth · 2015
Testament of Youth
7.22015
MovieHistoryDrama
Testament of Youth is a powerful story of love, war and remembrance, based on the First World War memoir by Vera Brittain, which has become the classic testimony of that war from a woman’s point of view. A searing journey from youthful hopes and dreams to the edge of despair and back again, it’s a film about young love, the futility of war and how to make sense of the darkest times.
TolkienTolkien · 2019
Tolkien
6.92019
MovieWarDrama
England, early 20th century. The future writer and philologist John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) and three of his schoolmates create a strong bond between them as they share the same passion for literature and art, a true fellowship that strengthens as they grow up, but the outbreak of World War I threatens to shatter it.
All Quiet on the Western FrontAll Quiet on the Western Front · 1930
All Quiet on the Western Front
7.81930
MovieDramaWar
When a group of idealistic young men join the German Army during the Great War, they are assigned to the Western Front, where their patriotism is destroyed by the harsh realities of combat.
A Very Long EngagementA Very Long Engagement · 2004
A Very Long Engagement
7.32004
MovieDramaRomance
Young Frenchwoman Mathilde searches for the truth about her missing fiancé, lost during World War I, and learns many unexpected things along the way. The love of her life is gone. But she refuses to believe he's gone forever — and she needs to know for sure.
The Big ParadeThe Big Parade · 1925
The Big Parade
7.61925
MovieRomanceWar
The story of an idle rich boy who joins the US Army's Rainbow Division and is sent to France to fight in World War I, becomes friends with two working class men, experiences the horrors of trench warfare, and finds love with a French girl.
The CardinalThe Cardinal · 1963
The Cardinal
6.51963
MovieDramaHistory
A young Catholic priest from Boston confronts bigotry, Nazism, and his own personal conflicts as he rises to the office of cardinal.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter