Cinematic Era: 1943 Vintage

Our Enemy-The Japanese is a 1943 16mm propaganda film produced by the US Navy and Office of War Information to provide background knowledge about the wartime foe.

Directed by Sailajanand Mukherji, starring Jahor Ganguly, Dhiraj Bhattacharya, Naresh Mitra. In Bengali/subs.

A documentary showing the functions of the Army Air Corps' First Motion Picture Unit, which made training and inspirational films for the Army Air Force during the Second World War.

Documentary short film in which examples of benefits to the American war effort have been gained by simple, practical suggestions from American workers.

Emerson's Mountaineers sing "Little Brown Jug".

A bill poster encounters a mean bull.

The Four Ginger Snaps sing us a song.

On the journey from Gangtok, India, to Lhasa, Tibet during World War II. The party journeys through Natu La and Kechu La passes, stops at the British trail station, Gyantse, reviews troops of Tropji Regiment and is ferried across the Brahmaputra River. Scenes of Tibetan natives, terrain, travel facilities, housing, a New Year religious festival, the Dalai Lama's palaces in Lhasa and monasteries.

Training film demonstrating techniques for piloting the P-39 Airacobra pursuit plane, including aerobatics and strafing.

Documentary short subject detailing the processing and delivery of food to American troops, and the steps taken to improve these methods in order to cope with the exigencies of war.

British documentary on Tuberculosis.

'At the National Houses set up, owing to the war, in the United Kingdom through the co-operation of the Allied European Governments and the British Council, Allied nations kept alive their own culture and traditions, and studied the British way of life. The film shows glimpses of the Czecho-slovak, Yugoslav, Belgian, Norwegian, Netherlands, Greek and Polish Houses.'

Soundie featuring Maurice Rocco and Mable Lee in "Beat Me, Daddy."

WWII-era documentary short about women training for the WAVES (Women Accepted For Volunteer Emergency Service).

The campaign to take back the small administrative and port centre of Salamaua from the Japanese army constituted one of the most important actions in the battle for New Guinea.

A training film by the Wehrmacht whose purpose was to show the German soldiers the different types of infantry anti-tank warfare.

How America mobilizes.

"We know that victory is won only through the sweat of workers and the blood of soldiers. Out there, there isn't one unimportant soldier, back here there isn't a single unimportant worker." Another film about the critical importance of wartime production brought home through stories of individual workers. Refitting of Firestone plants for wartime production. Manufacturing of truck tires, tank tracks, machine gun ammunition, gasoline tanks; anti-aircraft guns; barrage balloons; life vests; Many workers have family members in the military. The point is made many times that these workers have a special reason to work well and efficiently. "Industry started out to make it possible for these physically handicapped people to help themselves not it ends up that these handicapped people are helping their country."

Commissioned to make a film about a pilot health scheme in the Highlands and Islands, Mander decided against a straightforward documentary approach, recording doctors and nurses going about their work, and instead wrote her own storyline about a medical emergency and recruited actors to play it out.

There is a vast increase of youth crime, doubling in the two years since the US entered World War II. With fathers off to war, women are working in the factories leaving children at home for the day or after school, unsupervised and free to get into trouble. Young men and women, some working and making an adult wage, now feel that they have the right to act and do as adults. Others are trying their hands at new thrills, such as smoking marijuana. Young women are getting into trouble by getting involved with the many servicemen that they are attracted to. This film shows how these kinds of subversive thoughts that lead to juvenile delinquency can be broken by having youths selling war bonds and organizing 4-H clubs, among other activities.

USAAF Documentary Film

1943 US Army Air Forces film documentary

Foto Wong Studios.

This unique color documentary gives a rare look inside the Camp Hood, TX, tank destroyer troop training school in 1943. Includes up close looks at M 10 Tank Destroyers and camp facilities. (The film was financed by the Santa Fe Railroad, so the role of trains figures in throughout.) Highlights include target practice using field guns and M10s against moving targets, field maneuvers against tanks, live fire exercises, armored infantry assaults and bazooka training.

A successful attack by Soviet Catalinas on a German submarine.

Summer of 1943. The biggest Finnish film stars get together for charity and stop by an allotment of a veteran left disabled from the war. Helping with the harvest are, among others, Valentin Vaala, Regina Linnanheimo, Lea Joutseno, Irma Seikkula, Emma Väänänen, Hilkka Helinä, Kullervo Kalske, Reino Valkama and Joel Rinne.

Jimmy Alexander and his "Fancy to You."

This film from 1943 explains the mysteries of sound recording on film.

Made to support WWII war workers, this 1943 War Department Training film was part of a series that covers the care and use of essential tools such as pliers and screwdrivers. It covers common mistakes that people make, how to correct them, and how to care for tools to ensure they last long. The film’s general theme is that while pliers and screwdrivers are handy tools that can be used in a lot of situations, they should still be used for their intended purposes.

In "Pacific Milk Run" U.S. Marine SBDs and other aircraft attack Japanese-held Islands in the Pacific during World War II.

Excerpts compiled by OSS to try to provide a basic understanding of the social, economic, political and religious aspects of Japanese culture and how they effect national behavior. R.1: Illustrates the old, new, and western influences on Japanese culture. Scenes of gardens, home life, sports, dance, Shinto religious customs, and agriculture. R.2: Emphasizes the order, ritual, and ceremonial discipline that pervade all phases of Japanese life. Shows a dying man, theatrical performances, festivals and sport, events.

Soundie with Anistine Allen fronting for LuckyMillinder and his Band performing the titular song.

A U.S. Army training film made during World War II to teach soldiers hand-to-hand combat techniques.

A Soundie with Patti Ryan.

As WWII continues, more and more men are called upon to take to the skies in Allied bombers for missions over Germany. As such, many ground crew in Allied air units are being filled by women. One such unit is the 9,000 strong Women's Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Getting recruits on average of several hundred per month, the Division is comprised of women from all backgrounds. The recruits ask for no special favors and know that the work they will be doing is hard and important all for the war effort. The women endure much the same as their male counterparts. And much as the men do, their work ranges from the technical engineering functions in support of the bombers themselves, but also in all aspects of the military. Many prepare for their post-war life where their work will act in the support of the civilian air services

Brazil at War is a 1943 propaganda short documentary film produced by the Office of War Information and the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs.

Delia and Enrique, fellow bohemians, fall in love. Their worlds are different and she is the heir to a major industrialist. Enrique, recently graduated as an accountant, begins to work in her family's company, but due to management problems he must resign from the company and Delia as well.

The Pretty Priorities perform "Take It Off".

The Song Spinners perform "Love's Gonna Be Rationed"

Documentary short film depicting the correct methods of surviving the crash landing of a military aircraft in the arctic.

This colour, silent 16mm film shows various commercial activities on the streets of Peshawar, Kabul and other towns, highlighting the importance of trade to the people living and travelling through the North West Frontier and Khyber Pass. Architecture and archaeological sites along this important trading route are also well documented, providing a snapshot of many locations since affected by war. Made by Sir Clarmont Skrine, a British diplomat active in the 1940s this is an important record of sites of archaeological interest that have since been damaged or lost.

Documentary on business and life in São Paulo.

Documentary short film describing the need for certain restrictions and inconveniences in civilian travel during the course of the war.

The performance of the song "Petty Cake Baker Man".

Music from the Lani McIntyre's Orchestra.

Animated adventures in Africa.

From bayonet fighting to blasting bunkers, glacier climbing to sniper fire, here is the tough training that molded the leaders of Hitler's armies. This original Nazi film, enhanced by action-packed sequences and a brilliant musical score, depicts life at German schools for young men of the Waffen SS (Combat SS).

This short film was made by Central Intelligence Agency in order to train American AIOs (Air Intelligence Officers) with techniques for interrogating enemy airmen, and ways to gather vital intelligence. You'll take a look at an AIO training school, where candidates learn different types of interrogation methods, the importance of thoroughly familiarizing yourself with existing intelligence about enemy units and weapons, and to observe mock interrogations that are critiqued by the class.

Chris Cross and crew sing "I Wanna Be a Fireman".