Film Snail

War

The Hour Before the Dawn

The Hour Before the Dawn

May 10, 1944

A beautiful Austrian refugee in England--who is also a Nazi agent--marries a scholarly English pacifist. He lives near a secret military base she needs to get information about so she can help in Hitler's planned invasion of England.

The Black Parachute

The Black Parachute

May 4, 1944

A paratrooper drops behind enemy lines to rescue the deposed king of a mythical Balkan nation.

The White Squadron

The White Squadron

May 1, 1944

Inspired by the activity of the medical squadrons, piloted exclusively by female nurses on the Russian front of the Second World War.

The Story of Dr. Wassell

The Story of Dr. Wassell

July 4, 1944

As the Japanese sweep through the East Indies during World War II, Dr. Wassell is determined to escape from Java with some crewmen of the cruiser Marblehead. Based on a true story of how Dr. Wassell saved a dozen or so wounded sailors who were left behind when able bodied men were evacuated to Australia.

The Hitler Gang

The Hitler Gang

April 26, 1944

The Hitler Gang adopts the style of a gangster film as it charts Adolf Hitler’s rise from small-time politico to dictator of Germany.

Follow the Boys

Follow the Boys

May 5, 1944

During World War II, all the studios put out "all-star" vehicles which featured virtually every star on the lot--often playing themselves--in musical numbers and comedy skits, and were meant as morale-boosters to both the troops overseas and the civilians at home. This was Universal Pictures' effort. It features everyone from Donald O'Connor to the Andrews Sisters to Orson Welles to W.C. Fields to George Raft to Marlene Dietrich, and dozens of other Universal players.

Hot Rhythm

Hot Rhythm

April 22, 1944

Jimmy O'Brien (Robert Lowery)and Sammy Rubin (Sidney Miller), write jingle commercials for radio, and meet Mary Adams (Dona Drake), who wants to break into radio as a soloist for a band.

It's Your War Too

It's Your War Too

April 20, 1944

Documentary short film detailing the history of the American Women's Army Corps, the WACS. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive, Academy War Film Collection, in 2009.

A Lecture on Camouflage

A Lecture on Camouflage

April 15, 1944

Using Snafu as an example, Techanical Fairy First Class teaches the methods of effective camouflage.

The Memphis Belle

The Memphis Belle

April 13, 1944

This WW2 documentary centers on the crew of the American B-17 Flying Fortress Memphis Belle as it prepares to execute a strategic bombing raid on Nazi submarine pens in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

The Most Beautiful

The Most Beautiful

April 13, 1944

The stories of several young women who work in a 'precision optical instruments' factory during the second World War. Despite illness, injury, and tremendous personal hardship, the women persevere in their tasks, devoted to their work and their country's cause.

March-April

March-April

April 12, 1944

Lady, Let's Dance

Lady, Let's Dance

April 11, 1944

Singing, dancing, and ice skating are featured in this musical that focuses on ice-skating sensation Belita. The story begins as she travels to a California resort where she has been hired as a replacement for a dance team. The resort is run by a handsome fellow. As a result of the gig, the skater becomes a national star while the resort manager gets fired and becomes a drifter until he ends up in the Army. The Oscar nominated score includes the following songs: "Silver Shadows and Golden Dreams", "Dream of Dreams", "Rio", "In the Days of Beau Brummel", "Lady, Let's Dance", "Happy Hearts", "Ten Million Men and a Girl", and the rhumba standard "Esperanza".

The Negro Soldier

The Negro Soldier

April 10, 1944

Documentary focusing on the contributions to the American war effort of African-American soldiers.

Tampico

Tampico

April 10, 1944

A story of of the captain of an oil tanker during World War II, Captain Bart Manson, who rescues Katherine Hall when her ship is sunk by a German U-boat.

Atlantic Trawler

April 8, 1944

Trawlers at work; the crew on board and landing a catch. The fishing crew are seen with their families on shore shopping and enjoying themselves in the pub. Life aboard a West Coast trawler under arduous and dangerous wartime conditions.

Uncertain Glory

Uncertain Glory

April 7, 1944

In occupied France, a convicted thief and murderer escapes the guillotine when a bombing raid strikes the prison, but is quickly re-captured by the inspector of the Surete responsible for his original arrest. Fearing the guillotine more than his actual death, the convict inveigles the inspector to help him with a plan to rescue 100 Frenchmen taken by the Gestapo following an act of sabotage: he will confess to being the saboteur and allow himself to be executed by firing squad, the Gestapo's method of execution, thus freeing the 100 men.

Pincers on Japan

April 6, 1944

When the Japanese invade the Aleutian Islands, the Allied forces must push them back.

Sunk!

Sunk!

April 1, 1944

Japanese documentary about the submarine I-10 operating in the Indian Ocean during WWII. The film is shot largely from the prowling submarine.

Proudest Girl in the World

March 25, 1944

During the Second World War, the Canadian Army presents a Hollywood-style short musical film encouraging women to enlist.