Geoffrey Herbert Malins is the first war ‘kinematographer' in history. The documentary he shot during the Battle of the Somme drew over 20 million viewers in 1916. For years controversy has raged around the film due to its disconcerting violence and overt propagandist agenda. New research has proven that most of the scenes are indeed a real minute-by-minute record of the disastrous battle.

Geoffrey Herbert Malins is the first war ‘kinematographer' in history. The documentary he shot during the Battle of the Somme drew over 20 million viewers in 1916. For years controversy has raged around the film due to its disconcerting violence and overt propagandist agenda. New research has proven that most of the scenes are indeed a real minute-by-minute record of the disastrous battle.