THE GREAT WAR

THE GREAT WAR is an epic, four-hour cinematic scripted-narrative + documentary hybrid covering U.S. involvement in World War I in the critical years of 1917 and 1918. After three years of horrific battle in the trenches of France and Belgium, the Allies are on the verge of collapse – and Germany the cusp of victory. The United States is forced to rapidly train, arm and ship millions of young soldiers overseas to Europe for the first time. Over two nights, our story follows General John J. Pershing, leader of the American Expeditionary Force, who is charged with training and deploying an army almost from scratch; Michael B. Ellis, a young man fighting with the Army’s soon to be legendary Big Red One; and Horace Pippin and Henry Johnson, brave African American soldiers whose courage in battle helped their regiment be christened the Harlem Hellfighters. THE GREAT WAR weaves together the stories of these four men to tell one story: how an isolationist America reluctantly entered World War I and emerged a global power. THE GREAT WAR is presented by History in partnership with RadicalMedia, and executively produced by Robin Roberts (and Rock’n Robin Productions). Directed by Mandla Dube, produced by Leslie Mattingly as show runner. The two-part series was edited alongside Jennifer Honn.