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My Four Years in Germany

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My Four Years in Germany
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWilliam Nigh
Clifford P. Saum (assist. director)
Written byCharles A. Logue
Based onMy Four Years in Germany
by James W. Gerard
Produced byHarry Warner
Albert Warner
Sam Warner
Jack L. Warner
Mark Dintenfass
StarringHalbert Brown
CinematographyRial B. Schellinger
Edited byWilliam Nigh
Production
companies
My Four Years in Germany Pictures, Inc.
Warner Brothers
Distributed byFirst National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc.
Release dates
  • March 10, 1918 (1918-03-10) (New York City)
  • April 29, 1918 (1918-04-29)
Running time
108 minutes (10 reels)
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)
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My Four Years in Germany is a 1918 American silent war drama film directed by William Nigh, based on the experiences of real life U. S. Ambassador to Germany James W. Gerard as described in his book. It is notable as being the first film produced by the four Warner Brothers, Harry, Sam, Albert and Jack, although the title card clearly reads "My Four Years In Germany Inc. Presents ...".[1] The film was produced during the height of World War I and is generally considered a prime example of war propaganda.[2][3]

Cast

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Reception

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Like many American films of the time, My Four Years in Germany was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required cuts, in Reel 7, of the intertitle "Do you know where will be quarted tonight?", two scenes of officer entering cabin into which young woman runs and his exit, scene of young woman lying in bed with clothing disarranged after her criminal assault, scene of dead woman on ground, Reel 8, the intertitle "The first night we were quartered with the soldiers", and, Reel 10, scene of man drawing sword out of other man's body.[4] The Chicago board's cuts totaled twenty feet of film.

Preservation

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A copy of My Four Years in Germany is held in the Turner Entertainment film library.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ "Warner's First Feature Film Turns 100". WarnerBros.com. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  2. ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: My Four Years in Germany
  3. ^ Progressive Silent Film List: My Four Years in Germany at silentera.com
  4. ^ "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (21). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 31. May 18, 1918.
  5. ^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: My Four Years in Germany
  6. ^ Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress, p. 123 c.1978 by The American Film Institute
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