Hollywood Goes to War
Season 1 Episode 15 - The Battle of Midway
John Ford's documentary focuses on the Japanese attack and the subsequent conflict in The Battle of Midway. The enthralling documentary was filmed as the attack happened.
Season 1
S01:E01 - December 7th
This Oscar-winning documentary on the Pacific War begins with Japanese preparations before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and ends with the U.S. dropping the atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Aside from the interesting footage on the Japanese home front before Pearl Harbor, there are also many questions raised as to why the U.S. was not aware that Pearl Harbor might be bombed. Evidence is given that enemy planes were sighted earlier and messages were decoded, both in time to give plenty of warning.
S01:E02 - Attack! the Battle for New Britain
This gripping documentary chronicles the relentless and bloody 1943 Allied assault on the entrenched Japanese forces on Arawe Beach and Cape Gloucester, New Britain. Beginning with unsparing training footage of the Allies preparing for the assault, you are then presented with the three-prong Allied attack to retake the island of New Britain. Despite the heavy losses, the Allies were victorious in this pivotal battle of the South Pacific theater in World War II.
S01:E03 - Combat America
This documentary was produced in 1943 under the guidance of then Army Air Force Lieutenant Clark Gable. This film features a single 8th Air Force B-17 crew from the 351st Bombardment Group based in England. The documentary follows the ground and aircrew from their training through a series of bombing missions over Europe.
S01:E04 - Divide and Conquer
Utilizing visceral newsreel footage and maps, the documentary chronicles Hitler's stunning sweep across Europe. We watch as the Nazis overcome Denmark and Norway, repel the British Army and force France into a humiliating surrender. We discover how ground-breaking Nazi military tactics and the duplicity of traitors lead to the fall of the majority of Central Europe.
S01:E05 - Here Is Germany
In this documentary Frank Capra makes Here is Germany in response to perhaps the greatest propaganda film of all time, A Triumph of the Will. Here is Germany is a harsh condemnation of the Nazis.
S01:E06 - Know Your Ally Britain
In this documentary we look at Great Britain, one of our earliest enemies, but who became one of our greatest allies. Long before America entered the war, Great Britain was being hammered by the Nazi war machine. In the early days of the war Great Britain was the only country with the capability of waging war against Germany.
S01:E07 - Know Your Enemy Japan
No country has proved to be a more formidable opponent that Japan. The Japanese have been preparing for war for years, but the average American knew nothing about Japan.To help G.I.'s understand why they were fighting Japan Frank Capra produced Know Your Enemy Japan.
S01:E08 - Let There Be Light
A presentation of John Huston's sensitive wartime documentary on the treatment of shell-shocked combat veterans, showing the various processes Army psychologists used to help cure these troubled men.
S01:E09 - Prelude to War
Prelude to War, the Oscar-winning documentary, shows the viewer how diplomatic and political snafus made in the wake of World War I planted the seeds of World War II. Blame is pointed squarely at the American populace, who had come to believe that the problems of the rest of the world would never affect them. While America slumbered, Japan and Germany inexorably built their armies and launched their plans for world domination.
S01:E10 - Report From the Aleutians
Released in 1943 (opening in New York City on July 31st) at 45 minutes through the Office of War Information and distributed and exhibited through the auspices of the War Activities Committee of the motion picture industry, this Oscar-winning film was never registered for copyright and/or renewed. Produced by the U.S. Army Signal Corps for the War Department, this film was directed and narrated by Captain John Huston, with additional narration scripted and read by Captain Walter Huston. The film's working title was Alaska—1942 and it was also identified as Army Air Forces Training Film AF-114.
S01:E11 - San Pietro
According to Time magazine, "San Pietro is in every respect as good a war film as any that has been made; in some respects it is the best. A record of one of the tense and bloody battles for the Liri Valley in Italy in late 1943, it is a story told chiefly in terms of the experiences of one infantry regiment -- the 143rd of the 36th Division. San Pietro's record of combat, its eye for terrain and for weather, its recognition of war as a science both wonderful and tragically inexact, is at least equal to any seen in films so far”.
S01:E12 - The Stilwell Road
This World War II documentary, narrated by actor (and future U.S. President) Ronald Reagan, homes in on the China-India-Burma arena of the war. The Stilwell Road (conceived by American General Joseph Stilwell) was a stunning feat of engineering and brute force construction carried out by 63,000 men. Designed to create a truck supply line that would provision the Chinese army fighting the Japanese forces on its home front, it took twenty-six months, many lives and $150 million to build. The 478 mile road started in India, cut through the almost impenetrable jungles and mountains of Burma, and ended in China.
S01:E13 - The Battle of Britain
Narrated by double amputee RAF fighter pilot Douglas Bader, The Battle of Britain records the courage and resolve of the British people in the face of the constant bombings by Hitler's Luftwaffe. In 1940, Britain was virtually the only European nation not to have fallen to the German war machine. At the conclusion of the film Britain’s pilots are readying an air assault that will finally lead to payback for Hitler’s oppression.
S01:E14 - The Battle of China
In this fascinating documentary we learn about the nation of China, its populace and the countries resolve to stop the invading forces of the Japanese during World War II. Starting with a short historical background to the country, we discover the reasons behind the Japanese desire for its conquest, and why they were confident of success. Ultimately, the events of the war in that region are chronicled, showing the Japanese forces taking control of portions of China to aid them in conquering all of Asia as well as the iron resistance of the Chinese people, who use all their ingenuity to fight Japanese aggression to the end.
S01:E15 - The Battle of Midway
John Ford's documentary focuses on the Japanese attack and the subsequent conflict in The Battle of Midway. The enthralling documentary was filmed as the attack happened.
S01:E16 - The Battle of Russia (Pt. 1)
In this Oscar-nominated documentary, we discover Russia's valiant resistance to invasion throughout its history. The Russian people’s strength of character was the key to their determination in prevailing against unstoppable German forces during some of the bloodiest battles of the World War II. The film is a wonderful compilation of authentic newsreel footage from both the U.S. Signal Corps and various Soviet sources.
S01:E17 - The Battle of Russia (Pt. 2)
In this Oscar-nominated documentary, we discover Russia's valiant resistance to invasion throughout its history. The Russian people’s strength of character was the key to their determination in prevailing against unstoppable German forces during some of the bloodiest battles of the World War II. The film is a wonderful compilation of authentic newsreel footage from both the U.S. Signal Corps and various Soviet sources.
S01:E18 - The Memphis Belle
This award-winning World War II documentary covers the 25th and final mission of “The Memphis Belle”, a B-17 Flying Fortress that flew bombing missions over Europe. Covering the various aspects of the mission, including footage from the actual flight of its raid on the German submarine pens in Wilhelmshafen, Germany, the documentary shows the crew of the plane as ordinary men doing their job in an extraordinary situation. The story of the plane and crew eventually was made into a major motion picture in 1990 by Warner Bros. Studios starring Matthew Modine.
S01:E19 - The Nazis Strike
This tough-minded documentary masterfully assembles newsreel footage to trace the ascent of Adolf Hitler and his ravening hunger for global domination. After forcefully wresting the German government from more moderate politicians, Hitler installs himself as dictator. Having suppressed the Jewish people in Germany, Der Fuhrer invades the Rhineland and Austria, and subsequently calls for the annexation of Czechoslovakia. In spite of assuring the world of "peace in our time”, he marches on Poland, leading to the conflict that became World War II.
S01:E20 - The Negro Soldier
During World War II United States Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall faced the issue of racial discrimination on several fronts. America's armies were racially segregated. Racial discrimination was a real problem that threatened the unity of our fighting armies.
S01:E21 - The Price of Freedom
This documentary focuses on propaganda. Most of us have some sense that propaganda involves deception and falsehoods. After all isn't truth the first casualty of war? Chief of Staff Marshall ordered American troops training for combat to watch John Huston's Battle of San Pietro. He wanted them to see it because he wanted them to see the truth and not feel betrayed in combat, but for most Americans it wasn't combat. War was ration cards, lights out and not enough stockings for your legs.
S01:E22 - Thunderbolt
The documentary chronicles the exploits of the P-47 Thunderbolt pilots of the "Fighting Gamecocks" of the 65th Fighter squadron, 57th Fighter Group. Based on the island of Corsica off the northwest coast of the Italian boot, they flew from behind the enemy's flank. As part of "Operation Strangle”, they continuously attacked highways, bridges, ammo dumps, railroads and just about anything that moved to choke off the flow of supplies to the Axis front line.
S01:E23 - Tunisian Victory (Pt. 1)
The British and United States Service Film Units made this documentary. Frank Capra and Roy Boulting directed this account of the North African campaign in World War II; it covers the period between the American intervention in 1942 and the Allied victory. Burgess Meredith and Bernard Miles narrate.
S01:E24 - Tunisian Victory (Pt. 2)
The British and United States Service Film Units made this documentary. Frank Capra and Roy Boulting directed this account of the North African campaign in World War II; it covers the period between the American intervention in 1942 and the Allied victory. Burgess Meredith and Bernard Miles narrate.
S01:E25 - Two Down One to Go
For the millions of American soldiers in Europe victory was a day they had dreamed of. Hitler was dead, and with him his mad plan of world conquest. To the south fascist Italy too had been defeated. Millions of soldiers had been killed in combat and millions of civilians had been murdered, but at last it as over. The defeats meant the United States could direct all of its resources to Japan.
S01:E26 - War Comes to America
As history shows every army needs to be reminded about why they fight. Real war is dirty work and telling the troops the reason for this sacrifice is as important today as it was in Revolutionary times. As the United States entered the second World War Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall realized he was going to need more than pamphlets to communicate with millions of citizen soldiers spread out over the entire globe.
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