Film Snail

War

Get Cracking

March 13, 1944

Theatrical advertisement for National Savings Stamps.

How to Fly the B-25

March 13, 1944

Documentary short subject providing an overview of fundamental information for pilots and co-pilots of the Mitchell B-25 medium bomber. Pre-flight checklists are detailed, including warnings against common accidents on the ground. Take-off under both normal and short-runway/obstacle conditions is explained. Normal flight and flight with loss of one engine is demonstrated, ending with normal and single-engine landing techniques and parking instructions.

Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadron

Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadron

March 9, 1944

A 1944 propaganda film that depicts the fictionalised career of IJAAF pilot Tateo Kato, who led the 64th Sentai during the early months of the Pacific War. The film has scenes featuring Ki-43 fighters escorting Ki-21 bombers to attack Rangoon, where they are attacked by P-40 Warhawk and Brewster Buffalo fighters.

A Few Quick Facts: Inflation

March 2, 1944

Private Snafu learns about inflation

With the Marines at Tarawa

With the Marines at Tarawa

March 2, 1944

Documentary short film depicting the harrowing battle between the U.S. Marines and the Japanese for control of the Pacific island of Tarawa. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with National Archives and Records Administration in 2005.

Information Please

March 1, 1944

Instructional military film that shows the many deceptive ways that Germans might extract valuable information from British prisoners-of-war.

The Navy Way

The Navy Way

February 26, 1944

The experiences of a disparate group of young men as they make their way through Navy boot camp.

The Purple Heart

The Purple Heart

February 25, 1944

This is the story of the crew of a downed bomber, captured after a run over Tokyo, early in the war. Relates the hardships the men endure while in captivity, and their final humiliation: being tried and convicted as war criminals.

Passage to Marseille

Passage to Marseille

March 11, 1944

A freedom-loving French journalist sacrifices his happiness and security to battle Nazi tyranny.

The Dawn of Freedom

The Dawn of Freedom

February 10, 1944

This film was made by the Japanese occupation authorities in the Philippines as a propaganda film to show the Philippine people the "benefits" of the Japanese invasion and takeover of their country.

Song of Russia

Song of Russia

February 10, 1944

American conductor John Meredith and his manager, Hank Higgins, go to Russia shortly before the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. Meredith falls in love with beautiful Soviet pianist Nadya Stepanova while they travel throughout the country on a 40-city tour. Along the way, they see happy, healthy, smiling, free Soviet citizens, blissfully living the Communist dream. This bliss is destroyed by the German invasion.

Cowboy Canteen

Cowboy Canteen

February 9, 1944

Song and comedy revue, featuring Western talents, along with a theatrical troupe taking their vacation on the Lazy B Ranch run by Steve Bradley. Steve is about to enter the army and he and Tex Coulter compete for the love of Connie Grey.

Bell-Bottom George

Bell-Bottom George

February 7, 1944

George is an unwilling civilian during the war. When an enlisted friend switches clothes with him in order to go to a party, George finds himself mistakenly pressed into the navy, where he gets involved with pretty Ann Firth and caught up in a subplot involving German spies.

None Shall Escape

None Shall Escape

February 3, 1944

Through flashbacks, the story of a Nazi war criminal is exposed.

The Fighting Sullivans

The Fighting Sullivans

February 3, 1944

The lives of a close-knit group of brothers growing up in Iowa during the days of the Great Depression and of World War II and their eventual deaths in action in the Pacific theater are chronicled in this film based on a true story.

Ladies Courageous

Ladies Courageous

February 2, 1944

Loretta Young stars in this drama about female pilots during WWII.

Passport to Destiny

Passport to Destiny

January 31, 1944

An English charwoman, believing herself protected by a magic eye amulet, travels to Nazi Germany to personally assassinate Adolf Hitler.

The Impostor

The Impostor

February 10, 1944

The story concerns a condemned murderer named Clement (Jean Gabin), who is "liberated" when the Nazis bomb the French jail that holds him. During his escape, Clement comes across the body of a French soldier; he steals the dead man's uniform and identification papers, then hides from the law by joining the Resistance movement. Clement's new identity and purpose in life reforms him, and in due time he has sacrificed himself in service of his country.

The Fighting Seabees

The Fighting Seabees

January 27, 1944

Construction workers in World War II in the Pacific are needed to build military sites, but the work is dangerous and they doubt the ability of the Navy to protect them. After a series of attacks by the Japanese, something new is tried, Construction Battalions (CBs=Seabees). The new CBs have to both build and be ready to fight.

At His Side

January 24, 1944

Documentary short film depicting the activities of the American Red Cross in the Allied war effort.