Military, War & News Films

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569690 / Local Identifier 111-TV-425 / Big Picture: The Joseph Warren Stilwell Story / DVD Copied by Timothy Vollmer. "I claim we got a hell of a beating. We got run out of Burma and it is as humiliating as hell. I think we ought to find out what caused it, go back and retake it." So begins "The Joseph Warren Stilwell Story," a pictorial record produced for THE BIG PICTURE television series, of both a "hell of a beating" and one of the most remarkable comebacks in military history. Here is all the color and excitement in the life of one of America's greatest soldiers: General Joseph Warren Stilwell -- his baptism of fire in World War I, the outbreak: of war in China, his gallant but doomed defense of Burma, the tragic withdrawal through enemy infested jungles, and finally, the magnificent counterpunch that turned humiliating defeat into complete victory. The overworked term "Soldier's Soldier" has lost much luster, but "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell, sharing the hardships and dangers of his men, gave the phrase real meaning. His was the unique capacity for commanding respect and obedience while evoking genuine affection. General Stilwell died in 1946, but his career of service to his country will always remain an inspiration to greatness.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569691 / Local Identifier 111-TV-426 / Big Picture: Flying Soldiers / DVD Copied by Timothy Vollmer. "Flying Soldiers" is a documentary film which dramatically presents the story of Army aviation. Viewers will see everything from a foot soldier to an Honest John missile. A simulated battle is staged for the cameras in which fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters rush vitally needed soldiers to the front. Also seen in this episode is the latest in Army aircraft -- the revolutionary "Tilt-Wing," the Caribou, and the Mohawk. Today Army aviation is more than a new weapon. It multiplies the effectiveness of every new weapon we have now, and those we will have in the future. As pointed out in this THE BIG PICTURE release, today's Army must take to the air, which has no mud holes or traffic jams, no road blocks or narrow bridges. This is not the air 20,000 feet up or even 2,000 feet, but the air just above the treetops -- or better yet, in between the trees.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569692 / Local Identifier 111-TV-427 / Big Picture: The Patrol / DVD Copied by Timothy Vollmer. "Where is the enemy? What is he doing? How can we prevent it?" THE BIG PICTURE presents "The Patrol," the dramatic and exciting report of seven men sent deep into aggressor-held territory for the answers to these questions. Upon their skill, training, and fortitude can rest the outcome of an entire maneuver. As THE BIG PICTURE points out, thirty years ago such an assignment would have been accomplished by a lightening sortie of mounted men galloping headlong behind enemy lines, sowing confusion and, with luck, returning with the vital information. Today's cavalryman may not seem as glamorous but is certainly more reliable. In the course of their mission the patrol takes advantage of every form of transportation from helicopter to armored patrol car, to rubber raft, to combat boots. This is not a war "game." It has the serious purpose of giving Army units field experience in the doctrines they have studied in training. In wartime, such a mission could well result in the prevention of thousands of casualties.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569693 / Local Identifier 111-TV-428 / Big Picture: The Code of the Fighting Man / DVD Copied by Timothy Vollmer. Company A is in a desperate situation. A major enemy offensive has succeeded in penetrating the front with such strength that the X Corps has been required to retire to the rear, leaving the company cut off and surrounded. There are many courses left to the company commander and the one he chooses is to stay and fight. So begins this episode from THE BIG PICTURE series. After two days and nights of continuous enemy attacks, he realizes that to remain will only result in the company's annihilation. The order is to divide into small groups and escape back to their own lines by infiltration, but before it can be carried out the enemy attacks again. Most of the company, including the company commander, are killed. Five men are taken prisoner. As they are marched off for interrogation they watch eagerly for some opportunity to escape. Finally, they take a chance and overpower the guards. During the pursuit two of the men manage to get away. For the three who are left another battle begins. They are separated and led through a series of interrogations, each more cleverly devised than the other. But they do not break and, like the men who succeeded in the escape, the victory is theirs. With this THE BIG PICTURE, the importance of the Code of Conduct which outlines the soldier's moral obligation to his country is made vivid and dramatic.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569694 / Local Identifier 111-TV-429 / Big Picture: Character Guidance / DVD Copied by Timothy Vollmer. In this issue, television audiences will see the Army's latest methods used in character guidance instruction. Using open ended films which have been staged and produced by the Army Pictorial Center, a problem is presented to the soldier on an ethical subject which plays, or might someday play, an important part in his life. The films are purposely left unresolved so that, after watching them, the soldiers may evaluate for themselves the behavior of the characters and provide their own solution to the problems presented. That such a vast military organization as the United States Army should have a program dealing with character guidance may seem a little puzzling. But the character of the American soldier is representative of this country--and the character of a country may well be its most precious possession.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569695 / Local Identifier 111-TV-430 / Big Picture: People to People / DVD Copied by Timothy Vollmer. Today THE BIG PICTURE looks at one of America's not-so-secret weapons. No scientists or engineers are studying the blueprints on it. It will never come off the assembly line or be fired from a launching pad. But the range and power of this weapon is tremendous even though about all the equipment it needs is a smile and a heart. Our Armed Forces -- with a sizable portion of its strength stationed at overseas areas -- is ideally situated to play a major role in the job of winning friends for America. Using post-war Germany as an example, THE BIG PICTURE shows the individual serviceman and his foreign allies cementing international comradeship on a "people to people" basis. A game of baseball, an invitation to Sunday dinner, a visit to the local orphanage produces a bond of goodwill between countries that is impossible to measure. The way American GIs overseas look at it, the artificial barriers separating people from people are continually being swept aside by one of our most powerful weapons -- friendship.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569769 / Local Identifier 111-TV-533 / Big Picture: Prelude to Taps / DVD Copied by Liz Pruszko - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). Once a year in 'Washington, D.C., the famous third Infantry Regiment- The Old Guard - combines with the United States Army Band to present to the public a pageant of military skills and colorful traditions. Today's THE BIG PICTURE cameras take you onto the scene and present "Prelude to Taps."

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569805 / Local Identifier 111-TV-571 / Big Picture: Tools for Learning / DVD Copied by Thomas Gideon - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). The spectacular growth of audio-visual aids in military training was part of our response to the sudden challenge of World War II. Since then, the never-ending tension of world affairs and the ever-expanding frontiers of human knowledge have made such tools for learning an integral part of our education and training system. This week's THE BIG PICTURE surveys the development of multi-sensory aids and devices for our modern Army. From simple working models of mechanical devices to the extremely detailed motivational and instructional modern motion picture film, the field of audio-visual aids has kept pace with the complexity of modern warfare.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569847 / Local Identifier 111-TV-654 / Big Picture: Action Vietnam / DVD Copied by Thomas Gideon - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). This film begins with a scene from December 1964 in which President Lyndon Johnson awarded Captain Roger Donlon the Medal of Honor for his heroism in Vietnam. The documentary then goes on to describe the difficulties of fighting in Vietnam; how it was a "twilight war fought in shadow and stealth."

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569853 / Local Identifier 111-TV-665 / Big Picture: Assignment Taiwan / DVD Copied by Thomas Gideon - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). This film chronicles the history of Nationalist China and provides a report on the work that was done by the U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group with the military forces of that nation.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 1174345 / Local Identifier 111-TV-607 / Big Picture: Operation Montagnard / DVD Copied by Thomas Gideon - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). This film examines how the Montagnards (a primitive tribe living in the Vietnamese central highlands) were trained by the U.S. to defend their territories against the Viet Cong. The film illustrates the methods used by Army Special Forces to win over these tribesmen to the South Vietnam cause.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569829 / Local Identifier 111-TV-617 / Big Picture: Partners in Freedom / DVD Copied by Thomas Gideon - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). The 1964 Defense Film Report -"Partners in Freedom"- presents the outstanding achievements of the Armed Forces and our Allies in facing up to Communist aggression in 1963 and maintaining our military superiority in 1964 to meet global and local challenges by foes of liberty. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara introduces his report and is shown on historic missions in Europe and Asia. President Johnson, as Commander-in-Chief, outlines America's military policy and goals in his first Message to Congress. The 30-minute color motion picture documentary, filmed worldwide by service cameramen, is narrated by commentator Richard Bate.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569810 / Local Identifier 111-TV-580 / Big Picture: Pentagon Report / DVD Copied by Thomas Gideon - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). "Pentagon Report" gives the ABCs of a year of crisis in Asia, Berlin, and Cuba. It tells how our Armed Forces meet every challenge and how Communism's guerrilla wars are being combated by counterinsurgency - a major development of the year. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara personally reports on progress in carrying out the President's program for defense of the free world and the President himself pays tribute to all who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps in his 1963 Message to Congress. Pentagon reporter Peter Hackes narrates this stirring 30-minute color motion picture documentary.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569823 / Local Identifier 111-TV-608 / Big Picture: Point of the Speak / DVD Copied by Thomas Gideon - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). In October of 1963, the largest trans-oceanic Army-Air Force deployment ever made was translated from blueprint into fact...This was "Exercise Big Lift"- a maneuver whose scope challenged military minds and fired the imagination of the entire country. Big Lift was designed to prove the U.S. military capability of quickly dispatching joint strike forces anywhere in the world. This week's THE BIG PICTURE, "Point of the Spear," takes the viewer every step of the way in this exciting peacetime military adventure.

National Archives and Records Administration - ARC Identifier 2569867 / Local Identifier 111-TV-681 - Big Picture: The Army in Taiwan - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). This film presents the story of the U.S. Army's advisory activities with the Republic of China forces in Taiwan (Formosa). It documents the advice, assistance and training given to these forces by the U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG). DVD copied by IASL Master Scanner Timothy Vollmer.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569807 / Local Identifier 111-TV-574 / Big Picture: The Fight for Vietnam / DVD Copied by Thomas Gideon - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). This issue of THE BIG PICTURE presents a documentary report on the activities of the U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy and their combined effort to help stamp out the threat of communism in South Vietnam. Filmed on location, camera crews widened their coverage to include the composite story of the U.S. Military Assistance Program in this troubled nation. In order to preserve the rights and freedoms of a free people, the United States Armed Forces are training the Vietnamese in order that they will be able to continue to fight the threat of communism.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569797 / Local Identifier 111-TV-562 / Big Picture: The Hidden War in Vietnam / DVD Copied by Thomas Gideon - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). From remote and hazardous locales in South Vietnam comes this documentary report on what the United States Army, Air Force, and Navy are doing to contain the spread of Communism. THE BIG PICTURE camera crews on location in South Vietnam show the military operations of our Special Forces units--how they live--how they operate--and what they are doing to help the Vietnamese. The host-narrator of this issue is television and motion picture star Mr. James Arness.

National Archives and Records Administration - ARC Identifier 2569866 / Local Identifier 111-TV-680 - Big Picture: The Unique War - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). This film examines how the Vietnam War differed from previous wars in which the United States engaged. Scenes explore how a conflict with no conventional battle line (a guerrilla war) had its unique difficulties, and how our mission in Vietnam was to win "the hearts and minds" of the Vietnamese people. DVD copied by IASL Master Scanner Timothy Vollmer.

National Archives and Records Administration - ARC Identifier 2569880 / Local Identifier 111-TV-701 - Big Picture: The Test of Battle - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). This film explores the operation of the U.S. Army Combat Developments Command Experimentation Command at Fort Ord, California. Footage reveals the creation and operation of a military field laboratory for the evaluation of new concepts in tactics, organization and equipment for the Army. DVD copied by IASL Master Scanner Timothy Vollmer.

National Archives and Records Administration / ARC Identifier 2569861 / Local Identifier 111-TV-674 / Big Picture: Why Vietnam? / DVD Copied by Thomas Gideon - Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). This film documents the buildup to the Vietnam War, from the withdrawal of French troops to the bombings of the U.S. Embassy and the intense fighting our troops engaged in to combat Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Cong. The footage features President Lyndon Johnson, Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.

World War II begins with the Germans invading Poland and France. But German forces are restrained by the British thanks to the vital convoys, Canadian and American naval forces' initial involvement and the Lend-Lease program. Still, the German submarine war increases its crescendo thanks to new French bases.

Using Japanese footage, viewers see the planning, execution and, ultimately, the celebration of the country's attack on Pearl Harbor. There also is an explanation provided for the attack and some peaceful moments depicted among the US sailors before the attack. Though damaged, the US Navy survives to fight again. (This episode was re-broadcast on 7 December 1952—the anniversary of the attack.)

With war now declared by the US, naval forces join to bring convoys of supplies across the Atlantic Ocean to the Allies in England. German U-Boats come through and manage to destroy some of ships along the way. Still, the Americans are resilient.

The Japanese are ascendant as they invade the East Indies, Singapore and the Philippines. But the Americans are victorious, first on the Coral Sea and ultimately on Midway as they manage to bomb and sink four of Japan's aircraft carriers—the same ones that were used for the attack on Pearl Harbor—making the imperial fleet retreat and giving the US an early victory in the Pacific.

World War II comes to the Mediterranean Sea as Italian, French and British naval forces struggle. British forces have the unenviable position of guarding the sea as they escort convoys from Gibraltar to Malta. Still, they have their relaxing moments, especially the daily mealtimes: Morning cocoa, breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper. Meanwhile, the German Luftwaffe attacks Malta, but the Maltese remain determined to keep fighting. Their heroism is rewarded when King George VI pays a later visit to the island, reviving their spirits.