D. W. Griffith’s Hearts of the World, 1918 Hollywood joined in the government’s efforts to stir up rage against the Germans. In this poster announcing the 1918 film by D. W. Griffith, a German soldier is about to whip a defenseless farm woman (played by Lillian Gish). First Lady Edith Wilson, who sought to moderate the hate campaign, wrote to Griffith pleading with him to cut or soften the violent scene.

Everett Collection.