shown to the people of Europe before the war started there would have been no war: Civilization is worth $1.50 today, tomorrow, or at any time. It is a masterpiece—a picture that grips and thrills. It preaches a powerful sermon and preaches it in a way that makes it interesting...After seeing Civilization one can truthfully say that had Henry Ford produced a film like this one that Ince directed, and sent it broadcast throughout the civilized world as an argument against war, he would have accomplished more for universal peace than did his famous 'peace expedition.' He would have reached the great mass of people who have but a faint recollection of the horrors of war, and would have showed them the pain and the suffering and the sorrow that war brings with it. Had such a picture as Civilization been shown to the people of Europe before the war started there would have been no war. Negative reviews Henry Christeen Warnack in the Los Angeles Times was troubled by the depiction of The Christ and wrote that the film "is not daring, it is only poor taste." He opined that it was offensive to the beliefs of Christians, Jews and atheists alike: [T]he play will...be popular with everybody with the exception of three classes: It will probably prove offensive to Christians because they are likely to think of it as irreverent; to the Hebrew it will seem mystical and exaggerated; the non-church-goer will find it absurd and undramatic. Outside of the Christian, the Jew and the unbeliever, I haven't the doubt of its appeal. Warnack concluded his review as follows: This violation of good taste and this error in judgment belong to the misconception of the story...Realizing the vast sum of money and the huge investment of talent and good faith that have been expended in this pretentious film, it is with deep regret that I am compelled to report it as a disappointment. See also The Kaiser, Beast of Berlin To Hell with the Kaiser! Yankee Doodle in Berlin Hearts of the World The Heart of Humanity Over the Rhine The False Faces The Unpardonable Sin The Unbeliever The Battle Cry of Peace References External links Civilization essay by Brian Taves on the National Film Registry web site Civilization essay by Daniel Eagan in America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film