| The Sinking of the Lusitania | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Winsor McCay |
| Written by | Winsor McCay |
| Release date(s) | 20 July 1918 |
| Running time | 12 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent films English intertitles |
The Sinking of the Lusitania (1918) is an animated short film by American artist Winsor McCay. It features a short 12-minute explanation of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania after it was struck by two torpedoes* fired from a German U-boat. The film was one of many animated silent films published to create anti-German sentiment during World War I. It runs on 35 mm film, commonly used by McCay in other productions such as How a Mosquito Operates, and Little Nemo. McCay illustrated some 25,000 drawings for the production. The film is stylized as a documentary, informing viewers on details from the actual event, including a moment by moment recap, casualty list, and a list of prominent figures who were killed. A modern edition was released on DVD in January 1999.
*It has been revealed since that it was in fact struck by only one torpedo. A second explosion took place but its cause is debated (see RMS Lusitania).