A film charting the battle at which HMS Monmouth was sunk in 1914 is being shown at Monmouth's Savoy Theatre.

The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands (U) was originally released in 1927 and is considered one of the finest films of the British silent era.

It has now been restored to its former glory by the British Film Institute and will be unveiled at the BFI London Film Festival Archive gala screening at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 16th October.

It will be shown at the Savoy on Saturday 1st November at 3pm.

The film recreates two key battles faced by the Royal Navy in November and December 1914 and was filmed in the open seas around Malta, with the Scilly Isles standing in for the Falklands.

No models or trick photography were employed by director Walter Summer, instead real Royal Navy ships were used in the filming with a few interior scenes recreated in a studio.

The film has a new score by award-winning composer Simon Dobson which will be performed by 24 members of the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines in honour of the 24 members of the band who were aboard HMS Monmouth.

Simon Dobson said, "My music has often been described as cinematic, but this is my first film score and it's been great working with the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines.

"I have created a musical accompaniment inspired by the popular tradition of military brass which takes the viewer on an exciting but respectful journey through the dramatic and dark events of the two battles with a suitably engaging and occasionally dissonant score."

Bryony Dixon, curator, Silent Film, BFI National Archive said: "The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands is a thrillingly accurate recreation of the events 100 years ago of the first major battle at sea of the First World War between Germany and Britain.

"This new restoration by the BFI National Archive will showcase the hugely ambitious filmmaking task set by Walter Summers, a much under-rated director, who called on the full resources of the British Admiralty to film using actual battleships.

"The film was hugely successful in its day and is a fitting memorial to the thousands of sailors who died on both sides."

Tickets are £5 for adults and £4 for children. Call the Savoy box office on 01600 772467 or visit http://www.monmouth-savoy.co.uk">www.monmouth-savoy.co.uk