THE UNCLE SAM MOVIE COLLECTION Volumes 4-6

The great pleasure of reviewing the first three volumes in the UNCLE SAM series was second only to receiving an unexpected email from the series producer, Bob Campbell, who generously sent me the second trilogy in this excellent series of documentaries.

Most of the films thus far are specifically war-themed and propagandistic in nature. There is some indication from the direction of the second batch of twenty-one films in the series that an attempt is being made to embrace even more of American culture.

Certainly the military flavour is central to the films, but political shorts and even post-war subjects serve to make the series more rounded. At any rate, the same remarkable balance between style, content and effectiveness is as evident in Volumes 4-6 as they were in Volumes 1-3.

Host Denis Arndt continues to be the glue who holds everything together. His insightful commentary contextualizes each film and remind us of the historical framework in which they were made. ‘Propaganda is not a dirty word—unless it’s propaganda for the other side,’ he says. This is a loaded statement that assumes right from wrong. In a conflict as clear-cut as WWII, few would argue with this perspective. In application to later, unpopular wars, when the American people were less united in a common cause, the degree of ‘cleanliness’ that the word ‘propaganda’ contains may be debatable.

Be that as it may, it certainly helps that Arndt is an actor as he is an engaging and authoritative host whose time on camera is almost as interesting as many of the films he introduces. And ‘almost’ is exactly how it should be; he does not steal any thunder from the films that are the heart and soul of the collection.

As in the first trilogy, each volume contains seven films, for a total of 21. Let’s look at each film in detail.

Volume Four

Volume Four gets off to a slightly confusing start as there is a packaging error. The numerical order of the titles on this volume is at odds with the actual order in which they are introduced and appear. Here is the correct running order.

1. PRIVATE SNAFU-SPIES

This stunning little cartoon addresses the need for keeping secrets. The deadly seriousness of the subject matter is given brilliant comedic rendering by the images and the irony of the humour. After all, a cartoon ending with Private Snafu being killed and sent to Hell where a satanic Hitler torments him is pithy stuff. When Snafu asks the question whose fault his death is—pertaining to the secrets he himself has inadvertently given away—he is answered by a demonic hand holding a mirror before him. Snafu turns to the camera in shock as the mirror ‘image’ becomes visible to us as well. It is not, as we expect, Snafu’s face; rather it is a horse’s ass! Powerful stuff. Who says humour can’t be potent?

My favourite bit is when Snafu is enjoying some ‘recreation’ time with a gorgeous blonde. As he spills the beans on some secret information the camera zooms into the girl’s ample chest, which dissolves into two spinning Swastika-emblazoned recording discs! This blonde is wired, and I’m not referring to her brassiere!

2. UNITED NEWS OF 1944

Ominous narration propels the viewer from one dramatic highlight to the next in the eight-minute news compilation UNITED NEWS OF 1944. It’s sort of a highlight reel of the year’s top news stories. It is sobering to see what a violent and destructive year was 1944. The tide of the war had turned and peace was in the air, but the constant reminders of the war’s awful cost are seen in every story. The year 2003 will see its share of armed conflict summarized at end of year, but an entire world at war is something very hard for many people to imagine today. That is why this film and indeed this entire series is so valuable. Lest we forget.

3. V-1

V-1 is a chilling reminder of one of Hitler’s most effective strokes of diabolical genius and is particularly poignant in a post-9/11 world. The V-1 or buzz bomb was possibly the most feared and reviled of Nazi weapons—a plane loaded with TNT designed to run out of fuel over an enemy city. When the deafening ‘buzz’ of the engine ceased and was followed by an even more resounding silence—people below knew that death was near. The sudden descent of these lethal and indiscriminant ship/bombs is put to poignant use in the musical remake of GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS when Chips’ wife (Petula Clark) and a school-full of children are all killed by a buzz bomb. Unfortunately, such incidents were not uncommon.

The narrator of V-1 informs us as we view the rubble of various destroyed buildings—homes, restaurants, churches, hospitals, etc. that if we can stop this war against tyranny we will never see such destruction in North America. The irony bites. This seven-and-a-half-minute short perfectly encapsulates the importance of the V-1 as a ‘weapon of the future’ and reminds us that WWII might’ve had a very different outcome if Nazi technological advances had not been checked when they were. V-1 is an important film, not to be missed.

4. JAPANESE AMERICANS

Host Denis Arndt interjects at this point to introduce the next two films. JAPANESE AMERICANS is an amazing piece of film history that deserves to be widely seen today. It acknowledges the rampant prejudice in the U.S. during WWII, particularly against people of Japanese or Oriental descent, then proceeds to extol the virtues of those of this heritage who became fighting men in the U.S. army. It is encouraging to learn that this film was made in 1945, though discouraging to learn that it took until 1948 for the U.S. Armed Forces to officially desegregate their units. Still, somebody’s heart was in the right place in making this film and it is an important contribution to the timelessness and relevance of the UNCLE SAM series.

5. WINGS FOR THIS MAN

Similarly, WINGS FOR THIS MAN is a look at the black pilots who trained as Tuskegee Airmen. This short film is a plea for acceptance and an impressive record of these men’s contribution to the war effort. Ronald Reagan’s ‘let’s set the record straight’ narration gives the film the authority and resonance it needs. One can only wonder how controversial this film must have been when it was made (during the war). No doubt there were parts of the U.S. where it was NOT shown. The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is another important chapter in American military history. It’s inclusion in this series is fundamental.

6. WHO DIED?

WHO DIED? is apparently typical of the emotional short propaganda film popular during the war, designed to tug heart strings, stir one’s conscience and prompt contributions to the war effort.

The narrator reminds the viewer of the huge numbers of casualties the war has sustained and asks ‘who died?’ in an effort to humanize the collective sacrifices of so many. She describes the boy next door, the kid who used to ask to mow your lawn, the son too young to drive—these are the men who died.

WHO DIED? is an effective reminder that numbers (casualty figures) represent people and each life that is lost is important. There’s a time capsule feel to this brief film, yet it still raises a lump in the throat.

7. COMBAT AMERICA

The last film on this tape—and by far the longest at just over an hour—is a chronicle of the 351st Bombardment Group, stationed in England. Advantageously, the film is narrated by Clark Gable, who himself was in the Air Force. Gable also appears, sporadically, lending the film some additional interest.

While not as compelling as the other films on this tape, COMBAT AMERICA is valuable as a sort of diary of airmen’s activities leading up to combat.

The film is shot in colour and contains some first-rate aerial footage. While I found the first part a little too meandering, the combat footage is impressive.

Tape Four of THE UNCLE SAM MOVIE COLLECTION continues the high quality scholarship and intelligent packaging of the first three tapes in the series. Denis Arndt is an excellent writer/host and his preview of tape five certainly whets the appetite for more.

More information about THE UNCLE SAM MOVIE COLLECTION can be found at their OFFICIAL WEB SITE.

Tell them Einsiders sent you!

The Uncle Sam Movie Collection: Vol. 4
The Uncle Sam Movie Collection: Vol. 5
The Uncle Sam Movie Collection: Vol. 6

Jon Ted Wynne