Dutch civilians; ferry boats
Creator(s)
- Library of Congress - Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division (MBRS)
- Special Coverage Unit (SPECOU) (Producer)
- George C. Stevens (Director)
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
Sign reads: "Monnikendam 7.2, Amsterdam 21." Dutchman in wooden shoes and black bloused pants walks toward camera. Two young Dutch girls in aprons pose for camera. Other Dutch civilians in native costumes are photographed sitting at side of street. Men in black cloaks and black caps. Jeep Toluca pulling weapons carrier on green country road. Jeep on what appears to be a ferry boat, sign reads: "Rikswaterstat." DC3 flies over. VS of Red Cross vehicles on a ferry boat, bombed out bridge in BG. VS of bridge from ferry boat.
People
- Stevens, George, 1904-1975.
Corporate Bodies
- United States. Army. Signal Corps. Special Coverage Unit
Subjects
- STEVENS, GEORGE
- RIVERS
- BRIDGES
- JEEPS
- RED CROSS
- RUINS
- BOATS
- NETHERLANDS
- COSTUMES
- CIVILIANS
- PORTS
- STREETS
Places
- , Netherlands
Genre
- Unedited.
- Film