YPRES - THE SHELL SHATTERED CITY OF FLANDERS (1918) [Main Title]

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Media files

  • Title: YPRES - THE SHELL SHATTERED CITY OF FLANDERS (1918) [Main Title]
  • Film Number: IWM 344
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Highly unstructured British film showing scenes in the town and area of Ypres, Western Front, 1916-1918.
  • Description: The scenes, in no discernible order, show Ypres and the ridges to the north and east of the town. The scenes in Ypres are chiefly of the main square showing the Cloth Hall and cathedral, the Church of Saint Jacques, the theatre, and the clinic. There are several scenes of troops marching through the original Menin Gate, with its two stone lions. Other identifiable points are the asylum, Hill 60, Clapham Junction, Polygon Wood, Vlamertinghe Mill, Hellfire Corner, Shrapnel Corner, Ploegsteert Wood, Sanctuary Wood and Wytschaete Ridge. Also included are scenes of Field Marshal Sir John French meeting Generals Gouraud and Weygand, 1916 or later. One scene, of horsed transport galloping past Shrapnel Corner, has been filmed through the semi-transparent sight screens.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (IWM 344)
  • Featured Period: 1914-1918
  • Production Date: 1918
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details:
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: French, John Denton Pinkstone (person) Gouraud, Henri Joseph Eugène (person) Weygand, Maxime (person) French Army (regiment/service) British Army (regiment/service) Australian Army, Australian Imperial Force (regiment/service) British Army, Australian Imperial Force (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: destruction, Belgian military - area: artillery bombardment (object name) buildings, Belgian - historic: Cloth Hall, Ypres (object name) buildings, Belgian - religious: cathedral & [damaged] (object name) buildings, Belgian - religious: Church of Saint Jacques & [damaged] (object name) 01/3(4-15) (event) Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium (geography) Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium (geography) camera (concept) rain (concept) mud (concept) dust (concept) fog (concept)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: English Subtitle language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 4 Footage: 3324 ft; Running time: 36 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Production: this appears to be a compilation using as its basis the 1916 version of the film, made by the BTCFWF (IWM 206). It is not possible to determine whether it was a wartime official or post-war unofficial production, or was ever released in this form Summary: the Menin Gate is the original structure, with lions as gateposts. The monumental Menin Gate which stands today was built as a memorial to the fallen in 1927. Shotsheet: a detailed shotsheet and analysis of the film has been prepared and is held on file in the Film and Video Archive Remarks: the film shot through the sight screens is strangely beautiful
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    IWM 344

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
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