The Heart of Humanity (1919)

A) How does the film relate to the chapter in Foner?

Although released at the end of the war, the film The Heart of Humanity is an example of one of many films of the early 1900s used as propaganda for WWI. We learned in Chapter 19 of Eric Foner’s book, Give Me Liberty, that these types of films were typical of the time period in order to generate support for the war. It was a new government practice of “conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses” (Foner, 692). This film was a reflection of the pro-war sentiment expressed through American culture that came as a result of the government’s propaganda; to oppose the war meant a lack of patriotism for the United States. Foner also expresses the American sentiment of Germans as being the anti-freedom, as “government propaganda whipped up hatred of the wartime foe [the Germans] by portraying it as a nation of barbaric Huns” (Foner, 693). This sentiment was intensely reinforced throughout the film through the cruel and savage depiction of the German soldiers. For example, in a scene where a group of orphans are begging for milk, the German officers refuse to give them any, despite the plentiful amount. They then maliciously pour the milk out onto the street in front of the poor, desperate children, labeling the milk as coming from “those interfering Americans”. Not only does this image make the Germans look terrible for taunting children and wasting valuable goods, but it also displays a favorable image of Americans for generously sending supplies to those in need. This also reflected what Foner described as a desire of American presidents at the time to spread power, not simply through military force, but through the spread of culture as well. In this case, the simple act of supplying foreign war refugees with milk was a way for the Americans to spread their influence as expressed by the popularized slogan “Food will win the war” (Foner, 691). In the introduction to Chapter 19, Foner describes English editor W.T. Stead’s prediction for the United States as becoming the “greatest of world-powers” by promoting “its interests and values through an unending involvement in the affairs of other nations” (Foner, 679). Their involvement in World War I acted as a way for the United States to carry out their spread of influence. In one scene of the film, the quote “think what this restoration work means to future generations” expresses the American hope for post-war American society. Foner also explains this hope when he explains that many Americans believed that “the war would accelerate the movement toward solving the ‘age old problems of poverty, inequality, oppression, and unhappiness’” (Foner, 693). To these Americans, the casualties of the war were well worth the outcome.

B) What can we learn about American culture during the time period by interpreting the film as a primary historical source?

By interpreting The Heart of Humanity as a primary historical document of the time period, a lot can be assumed about the American culture and thinking. First of all, we can see the large amount of involvement that the war brought from all sectors of society. The gender-class lines were temporarily broken in a time where patriotism and support for the war came first. Nanette’s sudden realization that her help was needed in the war showed that even women, usually given little influence, were greatly involved in the war effort. The war was central to American life at the time; it was on everyone’s mind. We saw this as the film switched from a battle scene to a scene showing the “loved ones at home” who were anxiously awaiting news about the war. Additionally we learn that hope overshadowed despair at the time; although the war would bring much loss it would also create new opportunities, as I described before. This is evident when the cheerful birth of Nanette’s baby follows the death of one of John’s brothers. Americans were hopeful that the war would bring good changes for future generations as is restated in a later quote, “through sorrow great souls are born”. Throughout the film, we are constantly reminded of American patriotism through the waving of the American flag such as when a young Irish-American proudly carries the flag to battle. Germans are seen as evil and cowardly as is expressed in a scene where they fire at a group of women and children, followed by the words “the cowardice of autocracy”. At the end of the film, the words “the heart of humanity throbbed with new hope” and “souls of soldiers are glorified in their sacrifice”, reveal the American expectations of an improved society following the war in compensation for their great efforts. Little did they realize that these expectations were to be crushed and replaced by a time of complete social turmoil, repression of their civil liberties, and economic struggle.

C) What does the film reveal about attitudes toward gender, class, and race?

I thought that The Heart of Humanity demonstrated an interesting mindset toward women of the time period. During most of the film, I was quite surprised by the presence of a woman as the main character and as a heroic figure for her involvement in the war. I was surprised by this, because from what I understand, women were usually seen as domesticated and reserved rather than courageous or heroic. The final scene reinforced my beliefs about the attitudes toward women at that time period. Nanette, being violently attacked by a German officer, became the victim and John became the “true hero” when he rescues her. However, I have come to understand that women were very active in the first world war and this is very much shown in the film. Nanette’s service in the Red Cross proved that Americans of the time were able to put aside their ideas of the domesticated woman and accept that she provided a great deal of support in the war effort. The war provided a time where attitudes towards different genders, classes, and races were temporarily put aside in order to focus people’s thoughts on supporting the war. However, soon after the war’s end, society returned to a state of prejudice and inequality and women reassumed their traditional roles. Not much is revealed about attitudes towards different classes and races in the film other than the fact that all who were involved in the war, no matter their background, were important additions to the war effort.

D) What was the most important scene in the film?

I think that the most important scene in the film is the scene in which a German officer is attacking Nanette in the orphanage and John comes to her rescue. I believe that this scene greatly expresses the idea of the Germans as being completely evil. Not only is the officer’s attack on Nanette completely barbaric but also his act of throwing a crying baby out the window is undeniably heartless and vicious. To treat a baby, the symbol of complete innocence, in such a manner can no doubt be a reflection of absolute savagery. To reiterate the idea of Americans as being the civilized, heroic ones, the director has John enter the scene and kill the German soldier, successfully rescuing Nanette despite the fact that she tries to end her life. I also think that this scene subtly depicts the return to normal gender roles that arose after the war. Nanette, once active and detrimental to the war effort, becomes a victim whose only chance of survival is through her husband’s rescue. During the war, the wives and daughters of soldiers had to become more independent and take over the roles once held by these men. Once the men returned, however, it was time for men and women to reassume their traditional roles in society.