Les Annales de la Guerre No. 85

Summary

"Les Annales de la Guerre" is considered the first state-produced newsreel in the history of cinema. Beginning in the spring of 1917, the French government produced the series through a film department within the military and mandated that all cinemas in France show this official perspective on the ongoing war. This October 1918 edition documents the final German offensives on the Western Front and the counterattacks by French and British troops.

As with most World War I newsreels, the footage shown consists entirely of scenes from behind the front lines, including troop movements, supply transports, ammunition depots, heavy artillery, and trains carrying prisoners of war. In addition, the film shows the French cities of Valenciennes and Denain after the retreat of the German army. It also includes shots of two fallen soldiers, images rarely seen by contemporary movie audiences.