Best Documentary Movies of 1919

Wallace Carlson walks viewers through the production of an animated short at Bray Studios.

Dr Wise is here to advise! As Britain fell under the grip of the Great Influenza of 1918-19, the Local Government Board (later the Ministry of Health) commissioned this dramatised public information film. Its hard-hitting message was designed to shock people out of their complacency towards this common illness and take preventative measures, as recommended by Dr Wise. In 1918-19 the deadly ‘Spanish Flu’ ravaged Britain, claiming nearly a quarter of a million lives. At the time of filming around 2,500 people were dying every week in London alone. Look out for some impressive microscopic footage of the deadly microbes in question, as well as some impressive location footage of London’s West End.

A short silent documentary showing the repatriation of returned Australian servicemen after World War One.

This documentary introduces outsiders to the scenic wonders and peoples of the far-off country. But the film also had a charitable purpose. Although reusing footage from Beautiful Japan—most noticeably the scenes with the Ainu of Hokkaido—it also interjects new material more central to the sponsor, about the role of women in Japan and their special needs. The film is incomplete and it is unclear how much of the film is missing.

Stencil-colored time lapse film.