10 Most Historically Inaccurate War Movies Ever Made
9. The Battle Of The Somme (1916)
“If the exhibition of this Picture all over the world does not end War, God help civilisation!”. The words of British Prime Minister David Lloyd George? Yes, but also words that sum up the propaganda-natured inaccuracy of the film.
Premiered in August 1916, just weeks after the start of one of the longest and bloodiest battles in modern history, the film’s carefully selected footage from the battlefields of the Somme depicted a heroic bravery of allied soldiers and an (albeit false) sense of hope in order to rally a home-front war effort.
It was disingenuous to say the least, with the horrors of the battle broadly left out, understandably. People didn’t know it at the time, but the Somme was a slaughterhouse, with the death total at the end of the five months closing in on 2 million. On top of this tragic sacrifice of human life, the battle essentially ended in stalemate, with no side making any significant gains.
Despite this, the film did its job, reaching an audience of 20 million in the UK alone as well as arriving in cinemas as far as New Zealand.