This Signal Corps documentary of the American Army's involvement in the First World War was released some time after the Armistice -- at least, this version of it was -- because it shows the troops reacting to the news.
By the time the Second World War had rolled around, the Signal Corps knew how to get a propaganda film made: commission Frank Capra and turn him loose. Soon he had a wealth of talent including John Huston, William Wyler, George Stevens, Anatol Litvak, William Hornbeck, Walter Huston.... anyone he wanted was anxious to help out. Things were not so easy during the First World War. True, D.W. Griffith had gone over at the request of the British government -- a situation mocked in one of John Buchan's thrillers, in which Richard Hannay winds up directing a battle scene. Still, the question was how to tell the story.
By the time this was ready for release, it was all over but part of the shouting. So this became a story of achievement: not 'Why We Fight' but 'How We Fought', laying down railroads in the mud, shelling German positions with over a million shells in four hours, with occasional breaks to shave and eat bakery rolls.
Some of the shots of pilots look a lot like ones from WINGS.
By the time the Second World War had rolled around, the Signal Corps knew how to get a propaganda film made: commission Frank Capra and turn him loose. Soon he had a wealth of talent including John Huston, William Wyler, George Stevens, Anatol Litvak, William Hornbeck, Walter Huston.... anyone he wanted was anxious to help out. Things were not so easy during the First World War. True, D.W. Griffith had gone over at the request of the British government -- a situation mocked in one of John Buchan's thrillers, in which Richard Hannay winds up directing a battle scene. Still, the question was how to tell the story.
By the time this was ready for release, it was all over but part of the shouting. So this became a story of achievement: not 'Why We Fight' but 'How We Fought', laying down railroads in the mud, shelling German positions with over a million shells in four hours, with occasional breaks to shave and eat bakery rolls.
Some of the shots of pilots look a lot like ones from WINGS.
