In an effort to change the American public's neutral stance regarding the war, the British government contacted Griffith due to his stature and reputation for dramatic filmmaking.

As they make preparations for marriage, World War I breaks out, and, although the Boy is American, he feels he should fight for the country in which he lives.

Von Strohm finds the dead sergeant and locates the Boy and Girl who are locked in an upper room at the inn.

[5] After being presented to George V and Queen Mary, Griffith was introduced to members of London's aristocracy who agreed to appear in the film.

In one instance Griffith and his film crew were forced to take cover when their location came under German artillery fire; he escaped unscathed.

[4] In a scene cut from the movie, actress Colleen Moore appeared as a little girl in her bed who, hearing the war raging beyond her window, was so frightened that she turned the hands of her alarm clock forward, hoping that time would rush forward to the end of the fighting.

[9] Lillian Gish, the actress who portrayed "The Girl", later said:[10] Hearts of the World enjoyed great success until the Armistice when people lost interest in war films.

"Some historians have also noted that Hearts of the World and similar films encouraged a "hysterical hatred" of the enemy which complicated the task of the Versailles peacemakers.