Border between Pilsen and Prague; railcars
Creator(s)
- Infinity 9 Films
- Robert Gatarz
- Murray Goldblatt (Camera Operator)
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
Aerial view of Pilsen. Murray posing for the camera. Russian border checkpoint between Pilsen and Prague. Scenes from Prague, including St. Vitus Cathedral and the Hebrew clock at the Jewish Town Hall. Prague Castle. Soldiers on a boxcar with “Dachau” painted on the outside. They line up and board boxcars.
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
- TRAIN STATIONS
- CHURCHES
- PALACES/CASTLES
- CITIES
- SOLDIERS/MILITARY (AMERICAN)
- AERIAL VIEWS
- CZECHOSLOVAKIA
- RAILCARS
- RAIL SYSTEMS
- BORDERS/CROSSINGS
Places
- Pilsen, Czechoslovakia
- Prague, Czechoslovakia
Genre
- Amateur.
- Film