This book investigates how American feature films and documentaries have shaped and reflected the nation's evolving perception of World War I over five decades. Rollins examines the ways filmmakers have grappled with a conflict whose impact continues to resonate in contemporary American society, exploring its civic and spiritual dimensions. The study analyzes a range of cinematic works to chart these shifts in perspective. It posits that Hollywood's lens has been crucial in forming and reforming national memory of the Great War.

This study is likely to appeal to scholars of film history, American studies, and military history, offering a focused examination of cinematic representations of World War I. The book's approach of tracing evolving perspectives over time suggests a nuanced analysis of how cultural memory is constructed and maintained through film. It provides a valuable resource for understanding the relationship between historical events and their portrayal in popular media. The work contributes to a broader understanding of how cinema has engaged with significant national traumas.