Wikisource:WikiProject Film/Intertitles from GeoCities/Hearts of the World

Hearts of the World _____________________________________ British prologue intertitles:

1 We beg your indulgence for this short prologue. It has no possible interest, save to vouch for the rather unusual event of an American producer being allowed to take pictures on an  actual battlefield.

2 D. W. Griffith sets up his camera in the British front line trench at Cambrin, fifty yards from the enemy's lines.

3 The interested look upward is directed toward passing shells.

4 At No. 10 Downing Street, David Lloyd George, England's Prime Minister, wishing D. W. Griffith success for his picture.

5   Apologies-- and thanks. The picture follows.

_____________________________________

THE STORY OF A      VILLAGE

An old fashioned play with a new fashioned theme

1 God help the nation that begins another war of conquest or meddling! Brass bands and clanging sabers make very fine music, but let us remember there is another side of war.

2 After all, does war ever settle any question? The South was ruined - thousands of lives were sacrificed - by the Civil War; yet, did it really settle the Black and White problem in this country?

3       Peaceful days in the year of 1912. The village at the time of spring, where people love and hate, cry and laugh, sin and are forgiven - even as you and I.

4 The market place.

5    The double house in which live the two American families on the Rue de la Paix (the Street of Peace).

6        We find the home brightened by pleas- ant news: Daughter is re- turning from a long visit to an Aunt in Rheims.

7      The Boy, son of the other American painter, burnt with the genius denied the father, has just returned from Paris.

8       The fussy little mother sometimes thinks herself neglected.

9 Three harmless little goslings.

10 The Wanderer.

11          One of the many prayers. "Please make me so nice and good that Boy will love me forever and ever."

12         Time brings to           the Girl interest in fashions and other little nets to catch love, after the manner of the world.

13       The littlest one of the Boy's three brothers is inclined to hero-worship.

14 This little love affair between them has been going on about five years.

15       With great enthusiasm he reads from his latest manuscript.

16 Afternoon. She reads his verse of love --deathless, unending.

17      A visiting street singer's imitation of a late success from Paris.

18             Monsieur Cuckoo argues with his friend, the village carpenter, on the correct method of      laying sod.

19    The Little Disturber makes an impression.

20 Monsieur Cuckoo makes advances.

21           Having so far strangely escaped flatterers, she now seems down for the count.

22 Von Strohm - "tourist" - sometimes serving as a finger to The Mailed Fist.

23      The Shadow. Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, rep- resenting War's ideal of all races and ages, the ruling of weaker nations and people by the Power of Might.

24  A deaf and blind musician, playing melodies remembered from his youth.

25 Twilight minstrelsy.

26 "When all the world is young, lad, And all the woods are green --"

27 The wall between.

28 Jealousy!

29      Von Strohm, much interested in village architecture -- and foundations.

30 Perseverance and perfume.

31  "Just one little      walk - so - so you can tell me why you don't like me."

32 The end of the world.

33 "Only you -- forever    and ever."

34 "Forever and ever."

35 The betrothal party.

36 Too persistent.

37 Even her blows are caresses.

38      Afterwards -- If he can't get what we want, let's want what we can get.

39 The German Militarists plan the dastardly blow against France and civilization.

40   With white thread and whiter dreams, she works on her wed- ding clothes.

41       The village Crier, butt of all jests, at last becomes important.

42 "I will see what it's about."

43 War!

44     The three musketeers read the news together.

45 "It means War!"

46        The world outside. In the English House of Parliament. August 3rd, 1914, at three o'clock.

47              Sir Edward Grey asks the Commons if it be their will to support France and protect the neutrality of Belgium.

48 "YES! YES!"

49           The French Chamber of Deputies, August 4th, 1914, at three o'clock.

50    René Viviani, Premier of France.

51   "We fight only to      defend Liberty! We have been without reproach - we will be without fear!"

52 "Vive la France!"

53          August 4th, 10:55 P.M. At No, 10, Downing Street, awaiting Germany's answer to Great Britain's ultimatum. Asquith, Lloyd George, Grey and Winston Churchill.

54  Germany has five more minutes to promise to withdraw her troops - or war!

55 At the Foreign Office.

56 "It is War!"

57 Again in the village.

58               Though an Ameri- can citizen, believing the land that is good enough to live in is good enough to fight for, he makes his farewells and offers his life to France.

59     Tears are shed - even for Monsieur Cuckoo.

60   "I'll be back in         three weeks, with a lock of hair, all for you -- the Kaiser's mustache!"

61              The Girl's sad heart masked with smiles, as were millions of others in troubled France.

62 "Forever and ever."

63      The sons of France go to defend their homes.

64 The wedding clothes.

65      In the little room where she had dreamed so many dreams, she puts her sweetest one away.

66    The Boy's regiment placed in a bulwark of trenches directly outside his own village.

67       The French swear to hold the trench defending the village until the death.

68 The enemy hordes massing for the attack.

69 France!

70 French Artillery.

71 At home the Boy's letters assure them the village is safe.

72 The Gendarme warns the villagers to evacuate.

73      "Danger? Impos- sible! The French line can never be broken."

74        The bombardment trying the souls of men.

75 War's old song of hate.

76 The French ordered to retreat.

77 The great retreat.

78 Into ranks again!

79             The very last trench outside the village.

80          The Boy, broken- hearted, knowing that retreat has doomed his loved ones in the village.

81       The German artillery moves to bombard the village.

82   The very day set as their wedding day brings the last warning.

83    War's gift to the common people.

84 The Boy's father.

85 The sheltered Inn.

86       An humble member of the great band, that includes some of the world's best citizens, making profit out of war.

87       In this massacre of innocents, the Girl's mother is sorely stricken.

88      The French make another heroic effort.

89      "Let the dead past bury its dead!"

90 The night.

91        The mind of the simple soul broken by shell and terror --sweet bells jangled, out of tune.

92 Beneath the risen moon.

93     The desperate onslaught turns the battle from the village.

94              A wounded neighbor tells where the little company battles.

95 The Boy struggles back toward home.

96         This was to have been their wedding day, so through a befogged and dizzy path, she goes to find her bridegroom.

97 The Bridegroom.

98 And so they spend their bridal night.

99 The haloed Crimson Cross.

100   The French success short-lived before the never-ending flood.

101           The refugees seek shelter at the Inn.

102 The conquerors.

103     THE STRUGGLE OF CIVILIZATION

104      The local head- quarters of the German army of occupation.

105         Though some por- tions escaped damage, most of the town was destroyed.

106     The Boy's family takes refuge in a dis- tant part of the village.

107      Distracted atoms of humanity--seek- ing shelter in hole and corner, cellar and crypt.

108     The Boy's oldest brother put at shoveling coal and his mother at domestic work.

109 The washing room at the Inn.

110        The Girl, cared for by a strange companion, gropes slowly back to sanity and strength.

111           Our musketeers, in a              new French uniform but an old service, placed where they are sure to do their best-- directly opposite their own village.

112           The hospital returns a familiar face.

113         "Unscrew the little cap -- and it's goodbye forever!"

114         Von Strohm, no longer in active service, now a member of the Intel- ligence Department.

115    The Girl put to work in the field by War, the Taskmaster.

116    Refusal or inability to perform their appointed tasks subjected them to whipping or other punishments.

117           An old fashioned German quotes: "Justice is the only Right!"

118      Von Strohm, the Militarist, corrects him-- "Might alone makes right!"

119  The Allies with fire and flame and souls of men win back inch by inch the sacred soil of France, righting her wrongs.

120 The French.

121   Great Britain's steel bulldogs bark their defiant protest.

122 The eyes of the Allies.

123       Lloyd George's        answer: "I will put them wheel to wheel until we pound Democracy's truth home!"

124 The French bring back prisoners.

125           The Boy, interpreting for the prisoners, hears news of his loved ones.

126   In the dugout. The Boy tells the news of the village.

127 Also battling!

128 Imitating his hero.

129         The rumor spreads that the French are massing for a great attack.

130 "My love, my dead love, they are coming to save us. Don't you hear--don't you hear?"

131  Von Strohm and friends, with the aid of entertainers, demon- strate the hardships of trench life for the higher officers.

132 Life's Contrasts!

133       The mother's        last words: "Be brave, my boys, be brave."

134               The sergeant, now promoted, glimpses real "Kultur."

135  The boys, unwilling to suffer profana- tion of their mother's memory at the hands of the Masters of War--

136    --themselves per- form a sacred service.

137      No requiem--save the ever-sounding guns.

138       No prayers-- save childish tears.

139           Von Strohm visits the main line on a tour of inspection.

140         After daring to bring them a little food--and much love.

141       Under cover of dark and rain, the Boy reaches the enemies' lines.

142          "An Euren pos- ten, verdammte Schweine!" "Back to your posts, swine!"

143 The officers not so gullible.

144 The lieutenant goes to investigate.

145 The Boy trapped.

146           They accept the report that the visitor has been killed in the back areas.

147 After two days and nights in a shell-hole inside the hostile lines, he gives the awaited signals.

148 Food for the children.

149    Von Strohm, his mess closed, comes to the Inn.

150 "Try the back door, sir."

151       A good memory for faces and ankles.

152     He takes advantage of the opportunities War offers scoundrels of all races and ages.

153 The same wall as--

154 "If they see you it means death!"

155 "You are my prisoner!"

156 The unused upper rooms.

157 The Allies, crouched waiting to attempt the rescue of the village.

158 The oath to retake the village.

159 Poison gas.

160           In the meantime, the French--a little nearer!

161 Hun trenches.

162 Pillboxes bar the way.

163           Again they see their own village!

164            They pledge to meet death as man and wife.

165    Only one more trench between the French and the village.

166            The Hun counter attack overwhelms the trench.

167              The French reserves told of the loss.

168        The sound of their own guns gives frantic hope.

169 "The spy!--Where is he?"

170 The Germans.

171 The French at the village edge.

172  The anguished prayer of France.

173     "You must surely die--take me with you."

174 Last German defenses.

175 The French storm.

176 The Americans.

177 Happy times.

178    America!--Returning home after freeing the world from Autocracy and the horrors of war-- we hope forever and ever.

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