American soldier life in Belgium
Creator(s)
- Murray Goldblatt (Camera Operator)
- Robert Gatarz
- Infinity 9 Films
Biographical History
Murray Goldblatt was U.S. soldier who served during World War II in Belgium, France, Czechoslovakia and Germany from 1943 to 1945, most likely with the 15th Finance Corps. Born in Brooklyn to a Jewish family, Murray worked in the family's hardware store before enlisting with the Army on January 23, 1943. After his release on December 27, 1945, Murray returned to New York and later settled in Princeton, NJ with longtime partner Jim Kane. He was an accountant by profession and active in GPP (Gay People of Princeton). Murray rarely spoke of his experiences during World War II even though he documented his travels on five reels of film with his personal movie camera.
Scope and Content
"Welcome to our home theatre.” Scenes from soldier life in the wintertime of 1944 in Belgium. The men wash mess kits, use latrines, walk around town, and have snowball fights. Panoramic shots of buildings and factories in Dolhain. The Grand Bazaar, a department store in Verviers. Scenes from a three day pass in Eupen, including destroyed buildings and rubble. Shots of Murray Goldblatt in a military office in Dolhain. Street scenes of soldier life in Dolhain.
Note(s)
Refer to Murray Goldblatt's shotlist describing the scenes and places in his five reels of 16mm film (100ft).
This film was preserved with a 2018 National Film Preservation Foundation (NFPF) grant.
Subjects
- RUINS
- BUILDINGS
- CITIES
- MILITARY OFFICERS
- SNOW
- STREETS
- SOLDIERS/MILITARY (AMERICAN)
Places
- , Belgium
Genre
- Film
- Amateur.