Author Archive: Retro

Considered a model for wartime documentaries, this film follows the 25th and final bombing mission of the “Memphis Belle”, a B17 which was nicknamed “The Flying Fortress”. Lt. Col. William Wyler flew several missions with the crew, taking on the camera-work himself, at considerable risk.

From Frank Capra’s “Why We Fight” series, volume 11. German and American armies battle for control of the small Italian town during WWII.

Produced by the Marine Corp. Documents the battle of Tarawa, one of the bloodiest of World War two. In color.

Dir. Frank Capra. Part of Capra’s “Why We Fight” series.Famous U.S. Army training film in WWII before theatrical release, asks ‘why we fight.’ The answer compares the ‘free’ and ‘slave’ worlds. Included: development of dictatorships in Italy, Germany and Japan, while anti-militarism and isolationism rise in the USA; a look at enemy propaganda; and the first acts of aggression. Walter Huston narrates a combination of archival footage, maps, and other graphics. Look at events of 1931-39 including Italy’s conquest of Ethiopia and Japan’s conquest of Manchuria.

Leni Riefenstahl’s documentary footage of 1936 Berlin Olympics. The film Olympia I – Festival of Nations and Olympia II – Festival of beauty were created on the specific wish of Adolf Hitler and were intended to spread Nazi propaganda. Despite the grim background to these games, the black American Jessie Owens won four gold medals, the Slovene Leon ?tukelj came second with his performance on the rings. The film includes the only known clip of ?tukelj from these Olympic games.

Most of the footage was taken by Soviet battlefront cameramen, but was developed and assembled into this film wholly within the USA.

It’s 1889 and the Cherokee Strip is about to be opened to settlers. After cowboy Dan Carver helps move the Box K cattle off the strip he meets Molly Lassiter. Attracted to her he decides to try to file on the Box K ranch for her. But when he returns to the strip to check for stray cattle, he is arrested as a Sooner and is now unable to participate in the land rush.

Outlaw leader “Draw” Egan, believed dead, turns up in the town of Yellow Dog. The townsfolk believe him to be William Blake, a strong and law-abiding man. They appoint him sheriff to rid the town of the hoodlums who have nearly taken over. He does so with dispatch, becoming a genuinely lawful and respected member of the town’s society. But then Arizona Joe, one of Egan’s old gang, shows up in Yellow Dog, threatening to expose Egan if he doesn’t help his old comrade take over the town.

In the wayward western town known as Hell’s Hinges, a local tough guy is reformed by the faith of a good woman.