Comradeship (1919 film)  Comradeship is a 1919 British silent film drama, directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Lily Elsie, Gerald Ames and Guy Newall. The film's action covers the entire span of World War I, from the months before the outbreak of hostilities to the declaration of peace. "Comradeship" was the first feature production by the Stoll Pictures, founded in April 1918 by theatrical manager Oswald Stoll. Stoll was a well-known philanthropist who had been instrumental during World War I in setting up a charity to create homes for disabled soldiers, and campaigned to publicise the plight of blinded ex-servicemen. The film's storyline mirrored these interests, and was also one of the first to examine the social impact of the war on Britain in the respect that common cause and experience had caused a sea-change in British society, challenging and eroding traditional class-based assumptions. Filming on "Comradeship" began in the summer of 1918 while the war was still in progress, and it was still in production when the Armistice was signed in November. Elvey took the opportunity to incorporate authentic footage of victory celebrations in London and some of his characters in the setting of the city in the immediate aftermath of war, lending these sections of the film a historical documentary feel. Pacifist John Armstrong (Ames) runs a drapery store in the small town of Melcombe, helped by his apprentice Peggy (Peggy Carlisle) and German assistant Otto (Dallas Cairns), who are having an affair. Local landowner Lieutenant Baring (Newall) finds Otto a suspicious character, but is angrily assured by John that he is trustworthy. Armstrong is attracted to Baring's cousin Betty (Elsie), who plans to turn their home, Fanshawe Hall, into a wounded soldiers' hospital on the inevitable outbreak of war between Britain and Germany. Otto leaves John a note stating his allegiance to Germany, and fails to return to work after the 1914 August bank holiday. Peggy is distraught as she is carrying his child. She is disowned by her family, but Betty hears of the situation and offers shelter to Peggy at Fanshawe. War breaks out, and injured serviceman start to arrive at Fanshawe. John visits to offer a charitable donation, and starts to tell Betty how he feels about her, but is deflated when Betty explains that running the hospital takes up all of her time and she cannot think of romance.