This feature-length documentary Blood and Oil: The Middle East in World War I exposes the Western greed and political intrigue which laid the foundation for wars, coups, revolts, oppressive dictators and military interventions in today’s Middle East. Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, modern Turkey and other hot spots are born as the British and French divide the “fruits of victory” in World War I. Written and produced by Marty Callaghan, this film follows conflict from the Ottoman Empire’s entry into the Great War in October 1914 to the Allied victory and declaration of the new Turkish Republic in 1923, and the hostilities that have plagued the region since.
Details
LENGTH: 1 x 112 Minutes
FORMAT: Special
INTERNATIONAL TRACK: Yes
TEXTLESS: Yes
CLOSED CAPTIONS: Yes
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
PRODUCTION YEAR: 2006
RELEASE YEAR: 2010
PRODUCER: Inecom Entertainment
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RIGHTS TERRITORY: Worldwide
Except for the Dardanelles/Gallipoli campaigns, the extensive combat operations in the Middle East during World War I have been largely overlooked in documentary programs. Given the historical significance of the Ottoman Empire’s demise in 1918, and the ongoing importance of Middle Eastern oil reserves to Western economies, a close study of this conflict provides two important lessons:
1. The Treaty of Versailles, agreed to by the Western Powers in 1919, paved the way for military and political chaos in the Middle East, which continues to this very day.
2. Oil reserves in the Middle East became an important strategic concern for Western Powers, helping to justify their economic, diplomatic and military interference in the region.
After the end of World War I, most of the Ottoman Empire was carved up into “spheres of influence,” controlled mostly by the British and French. The remaining territories became the modern state of Turkey in 1923 – after a five-year struggle by Turkish nationalists against Western domination.
With little regard for cultural, historical, religious and demographic considerations, the West sponsored the creation of several new nations: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Thus, a “tinderbox” was built from Western greed, igniting a multitude of wars, revolts, coups and military occupations that truly have made the defeat of the Ottoman Empire little more than a hollow victory.
Reviews
“Delves deeper into the conflict and provides viewers with background on how the Middle East became the fractious, violent region it is today.” – Cheryl Cheng, Video Business
“Provides an excellent outline of the conflict and its aftermath. Recommended.” – Kathleen Loomis-Sacco, Library Journal
“This absorbing documentary combines scholarly commentary and archive footage. Definitely recommended.”
- E. Hulse, Video Librarian“This informative production provides a comprehensive overview of both World War I in the Middle East and its aftermath.” – Mary Mueller, School Library Journal
“Is Islamic extremism an outcropping of a botched World War I endgame? Blood and Oil – The Middle East in World War I methodically recounts how Britain and France carved up the Middle East to suit their political and economic needs and traces the aftermath of these decisions including how resentment toward Europe’s policies helped foster Muslim nationalism and, eventually, extremism.” – John Latchem, Home Media Retailing
“A thorough documentary. Gives you the sense of how long the West has been fighting in the Middle East.”
– Joshua Berlow, The Cynicism of Diogenes“Callaghan clearly lays out his thesis: that the clumsy hands of Western powers guaranteed the region a future of conflict and occupation.” – Bill O’Driscoll, Pittsburgh City Paper
“Compelling and informative documentary that dares to venture where few films before it have.” – Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
“You’ll get much background information in this excellent documentary which makes the current situation in the Middle East more understandable.” – Doc Kirby, Video BookBit, WTBF-AM/FM
“Excellent material that helps promote understanding of the current situation in the Middle East.” – Eric Renshaw, CurledUpDVD.com
“Details how crucial the Middle East was in the war and how the post-war carve-up of the region is still felt today. Additional commentaries add depth to various aspects of the Middle East in WWI and give the DVD, already brimming with authority, a little extra oomph, making it that much more indispensable.” – Dante A. Ciampaglia, Fulvuedrive-in.com
“Provides viewers with a background essential to understanding the historical underpinnings of current and recent events in Iraq and throughout the Middle East.” – Tim Gebhart, Blogcritics.org
“It’s a shame President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld failed to learn some of the history lessons covered by [Marty] Callaghan in this well-researched film before undertaking the latest Iraq invasion.” – Betty Jo Tucker, Reeltalkreviews.com
“Highly recommended. Excellent documentary on the war in the Middle East (1914-22) and how we got to where we are now. All politicians, please watch.” – Gordon Smith, Naval-History.net
“A well-mounted DVD production that provides a compelling view of the events that mark the transition from the relatively peaceful 19th century to the most violent and bloody century in the history of mankind.” – Judge Russell Engebretson, DVDVerdict.com
“Utterly impressive. Director Marty Callaghan clearly has a strong personal interest in his subject, and conveys a sense of immersive passion as he pursues the roots of the chaos that exists in some areas of the Middle East today.” – Rene Carson, FilmFetish.com
“If there be any history lesson that should be sponged up by both political science major and those who decide on war today, Blood and Oil is it. History tells us what has happened over the past hundred years hasn’t worked. Blood and Oil shows us why.” – Steve Young, Talk Show host, non-fiction author and novelist, weekly oped-columnist, award-winning television writer and filmmaker.
Biographies
Marty Callaghan, Producer, Director and Writer
Marty Callaghan is a veteran journalist who has been writing and producing documentaries since 1996. He has won three filmmaking awards, and his Archives of War series has sold more than 10,000 copies in the consumer market since 1999. As a staff editor for the U.S. Naval Institute in Annapolis, MD., Marty played a key role in publishing Tom Clancy’s first novel, The Hunt for Red October. He read the first chapter of the book in the author’s home and got the manuscript to the Naval Institute Press, which published the book in 1984.
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