The story involves a submarine commander who refuses to fire at a civilian ocean liner supposedly carrying ammunition for his country's enemies.

The film was a popular success and was credited by the Democratic National Committee with helping to re-elect Woodrow Wilson as the U.S. president in 1916.

In 1999, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Suddenly, the boom of a cannon is heard, artillery guns belch fire, and a Zeppelin flies over the city dropping bombs.

[3] Against these scenes, the film's title cards express the film's anti-war message, concluding with the following comments: Today, the great sorrowful eyes of this same Son of God gaze down upon blackened fields, where the mangled bodies of men are strewn as grains of wheat, upon flaming shattered hamlets and stricken firesides.

As He listens to the screaming of the shells, the crashing of monstrous guns, all the ghastly symphony of the reddest war mankind has ever known, His heart must recognize the bitter truth in the statement of one of the world's foremost educators— That in nineteen centuries Civilization has failed to accept honestly the teachings of Jesus Christ.

If the awful trail of battle stretches vividly through the scenes of the narrative, it is in the hope that a shocked and appalled world may henceforth devote itself more earnestly in the cause of peace.

Dedicated to that vast, pitiful army whose tears have girdled the universe—the mothers of the dead.The film opens with the outbreak of a war in the previously peaceful kingdom of Wredpryd.

Five thousand women gather at the palace singing a song of peace and pleading with the king to end the war.

The signing of a peace treaty follows, and the closing scenes depicts the happiness in store for the returning soldiers.

[6] Advertising for the film (pictured at right) boasted of the extravagant expense incurred in presenting the spectacle: Actual Sinking of an Ocean Liner.

An Awe-inspiring Spectacle that one minute makes your blood run cold and another thrills you with its touches of human gentleness.

"[8] He expressed his hope that the film's message would be heard: I can say in truth that the playing of this part has affected my whole life and the impressions will never leave me.

In La Crosse, Wisconsin, a newspaper reviewer called it a "masterpiece" and the "Biggest Spectacle in History of Motion Pictures," surpassing even D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation: The photoplay and the spoken drama will be united for the first time in...the million dollar masterpiece of Thomas H. Ince...Civilization is an encyclopedia of the emotions.

[3]In Indiana, a reviewer emphasized the film's spectacular effects and its depiction of Jesus: 'If Christ Should Visit Verdun' would make a good subtitle for Civilization, for that is really its theme...Pictorially, and in the spectacular effects that can be achieved within range of the camera, as well as in the sheer beauty of many of its scenes, it is a masterpiece indeed.

Days of peace in the little town of Wrepryd, which is its locale, and in the peaceful country thereabout, might have been posed by the artist Millet, so strikingly do they stand out.In Fairbanks, Alaska, a reviewer wrote that, if the film had been 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.

[12]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.

[13]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.