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-WINNING YOUR WINGS (1942)(18 mins) This is an inspirational short designed to encourage recruitment in the U.S. Army Air Corp. James Stewart stars in this one.-REPORT FROM THE ALEUTIANS (1943) (45 mins) Depicts the experiences and apparent banality of duty for soldiers in Alaska and the Aleutian Island of Adak.
-SAN PIETRO (1945) (32 mins) This short deals with the battle of San Pietro in Italy during WWII. 1,100 men were lost during this nine month battle and this film shows the dead soldiers and how their bodies were dealt with and buried. It definitely reflects a darker, less patriotic tone and despite much of the battle sequences having been re-enacted, it is still a very potent wartime doc. The disc also has some Raw Camera Footage (32 mins) from the doc which shows some of the battle scenes being set up.
-Also included is a 26 minute introduction which gives a nice summary and context for all the documentaries.
-Lastly, the disc also has a film called SHADES OF GRAY from 1948. Similarly to LET THERE BE LIGHT, this 65 minute feature depicts "shell shock", but instead of using real soldiers, it uses actors. It's not nearly as effective, but it is interesting nonetheless.
This is a nice little set as far as all the films that are on the disc. It was put out in conjuction with the National Archives and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.It feels like something Criterion or Flicker Alley might put out. Very important and interesting documentaries from an important director.
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