Old Photo Sample  (Prior to 26 Jun 2016):

New Photo Sample  (As of 26 Jun 2016):

Old Photo Sample  (Prior to 26 Jun 2016):

New Photo Sample  (As of 26 Jun 2016):

Those expecting, that 1914: The Last Days Before The War, will give them any definite information as to the real causes of the World War are doomed to disappointment.  This is not due to any lack of detail concerning the diplomatic moves in the various European capitals that followed the fatal shot at Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, and continued until the declaration of war on Russia by Germany on Aug. 1.  The scenario authors, Heinz Goldberg and Fritz Wendhausen, simply failed to go behind the façade of Cabinets and rulers and devote a little time to the economic rivalries, profiteering armament makers and chauvinists of the leading European nations now generally recognized as the forces responsible for the world holocaust.  Otherwise, the picture is well done and follows the developments subsequent to the assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne.  There is a tendency to paint Count Berchtold, the Austro-Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and S. D. Sazanof, the Russian Foreign Minister, perhaps blacker than they really were and to represent Emperor Franz Josef, Kaiser Wilhelm and Czar Nicholas as would-be fathers of their peoples and sincere lovers of peace.  There seems to be no absolute knowledge extant on these matters, regardless of the endless discussion of the "war guilt question".  Consequently the German scenario writers have as good a right to their interpretation as anybody else.  An excellent cast gives reality and interest to what might be classified as a gigantic news reel.  Herr Schuenzel is good as the vacillating Czar, Frau Hoeflich is a sympathetic Czarina, Herr George looks and acts like Jaurès, and Oskar Homolka makes Sazanof sufficiently hard-hearted.  Although the conversation is in German, the action is partly explained in English through the device of having a returned American diplomat talk about the cause of the war with a newspaper man.

Gestützt auf historische Dokumente, schildert der Film in Form einer Reportage die Ereignisse an den europäischen Höfen – mit Hauptgewicht auf dem Zarenhof – zwischen dem Attentat von Sarajewo, bei dem am 28. Juni 1914 der österreichische Thronfolger Erzherzog Franz-Ferdinand und seine Gattin Sophie ums Leben kamen, und dem Kriegsausbruch Anfang August.

DVD-R is in German with no subtitles.  Approx. 93 mins.  See film samples for sound and video quality!  

Old Film Sample  (Prior to 26 Jun 2016):

New Film Sample  (As of 26 Jun 2016):