Destroyed town in France; dead German soldiers; campsite

Identifier
irn1002422
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • RG-60.3193
Dates
1 Jan 1944 - 31 Dec 1944
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • Silent
Source
EHRI Partner

Creator(s)

Biographical History

George Stevens (December 18, 1904 – March 8, 1975) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer. During World War II, Stevens joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps and headed a film unit from 1943 to 1946 under General Eisenhower. His unit shot footage documenting D-Day — including the only Allied European Front color film of the war — the liberation of Paris and the meeting of American and Soviet forces at the Elbe River, as well as horrific scenes from the Duben labor camp and the Dachau concentration camp. Stevens also helped prepare the Duben and Dachau footage and other material for presentation during the Nuremberg Trials. In 2008, his footage was entered into the U.S. National Film Registry by the Librarian of Congress as an "essential visual record" of World War II.

The Special Coverage Unit (SPECOU) was placed under the control of the Supreme Headquarters' Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF). The SPECOU consists of 45 people: writers like Ivan Moffat, William Saroyan and Irwin Shaw; cameramen like Dick Hoar, Ken Marthey, William Mellor, Jack Muth; sound operators as Bill Hamilton, who comes from Columbia, assistant directors, as Holly Morse, who has worked with Hal Roach.

Scope and Content

Jeep coming through severely bombed town. Stevens gets out. Camera on jeep. Good coverage and panning shot of a number of vehicles in front of small building called "Hotel D'Lion." Sign reads: "Carantilly 4 kms, Cerisy-La Salle 10 kms." Trucks with soldiers passing through town (very well shot). Stevens and Sergeant Hamilton inspecting a gun casing, walking through rubble of large bombed out building, church steeple still visible. Stevens looking at stretcher containing what is apparently a dead German soldier. CU of dead German soldier. VS of dead German soldiers, including CUs. Tracking shot past wounded being treated. Stevens and others with three GIs (Americans) dressed in Pansar Grenadier SS uniforms. Campsite footage. Sign on fence reads: "Special Coverage Unit." Shot of campsite area of camera unit. Tents huddled along tree at side of clearing. Camouflage netting. Sign on posts reads: "Officers Only." Men sitting around in fatigues listening to radio. Camp with post with separate signs pointing to London, Paris, New York, Berlin and Shirley. Sign reads: "Enlisted Men's (E.M.) Lounge." LS of soldier resting outside, sitting on mound of dirt near tent at camp.

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Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.