Reel

Prologue to the Great War (WWI) - PT1: Great historical background leading up to the First Great War. This section introduces the major world players including royalty, military leaders & politicians. Time period: 1896-1911.

Title card: Chapter I. Berlin, Germany: High angle LS crowd walking along street in Berlin, Germany, marching with soldiers. Great MS German Chancellor Prince OTTO VON BISMARCK removing helmet, striking a pose w/ one hand on hip. High angle LS German soldiers drilling on steps of building.

England: Cute MS Prince EDWARD of England (future Prince of Wales, King Edward VIII Duke of Windsor) dressed in uniform holding a riffle while playing soldier w/ brother ALBERT (future King George VI) and sister MARY.

Moscow, Russia: MS Tsar (Czar) NICHOLAS II and Tsarina (Czarina) ALEXANDRIA of Russia at event with high ranking military officers. LS Russian royal family & entourage walking along balcony before large crowd. GV Russian royal family (including the monk RASPUTIN carrying Czarevich ALEXEI) coming down stairs past saluting officers outside palace.

Germany: MS KAISER WILHELM and KAISERIN AUGUSTA VICTORIA & entourage walking past camera as they visit a German orphanage. GV children & nurses cheering as the Kaisers arrive. GV Kaisers smiling upon little girls performing folk dance entailing holding jugs on heads while turning round & round. MS KAISER WILHELM and KAISERIN AUGUSTA VICTORIA exiting orphanage. MS Kaiser chatting with a man (director of orphanage?) while nurses bustle about. MS the Kaiser posing with orphans.

United States: TLS mounted Browning machine guns traveling on rail carts outside factory. TLS/MS/CUs President of the United States THEODORE ROOSEVELT shaking hands, speaking to crowds at outdoor engagements.

London, England: TLS/LSs royal coronation carriage & procession passing great crowds during the Coronation of King GEORGE V. MS Queen MARY of England & the Empress AUGUSTA-VICTORIA of Germany seated together in an open carriage which then drives off.

Austria-Hungary: TLS/MSs Emperor FRANZ JOSEF (Franz Joseph) of Austria inspecting troops. Low angle GV looking up at members of Hapsburg house (rulers of Austria-Hungary) on balcony at the wedding Archduke Karl & Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma. Several good MSs of Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elizabeth, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife the Duchess of Hohenberg are among the guests at wedding reception. MS girls & women in the wedding party. MS bride and groom. MS Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elizabeth, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife the Duchess of Hohenberg at wedding reception.