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Report from the Aleutians film, 1943
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Huston, John, 1906-1987
- Title
- Report from the Aleutians film
- Dates
- 1943 (inclusive)19431943
- Quantity
- 1 reel (47 minutes, 1616 feet) : sound, black and white ; 16mm
- Collection Number
- PH1283
- Summary
- Film about the Aleutian Islands campaign during World War II
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
The original films are not accessible due to preservation concerns. Arrangements can be made to view the film by contacting Special Collections. Various transfers of this film are also available for viewing on YouTube.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Born in Missouri in 1906, John Huston became one of the most famous directors in American cinema history. Over the course of his career, Huston directed such film as Treasure of the Sierra Madre , Key Largo , and The Maltese Falcon . After his early successes in Hollywood, Huston joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps and was promoted to the rank of Captain. Huston created a number of films about the activities and missions of World War II soldiers while in the military, and he was eventually promoted to the rank of Major for his efforts. After a long career in films following his military service, John Huston died in 1987 at the age of 81.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
In June of 1942, Japanese forces invaded and occupied the Aleutian islands of of Attu and Kiska in a effort to gain a firmer foothold in the Pacific. The U.S. Army established themselves on Adak Island in August of the same year, and this Aleutian base was used as a launching point for a series of bombing runs against Japanese-occupied Kiska Harbor. After a year of continuous aerial bombing, a major land invasion of Kiska Island was undertaken by Canadian and American troops in August of 1943. Over 30,000 servicemen landed on the island, only to discover that it had been abandoned by the Japanese one month prior to the invasion. This mission concluded the campaign in the Aleutian Islands, one in which 1,481 American and 4,350 Japanese soldiers were killed.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
A history of the Aleutian Islands campaign during World War II, as well as source of geographical information concerning the islands themselves. Footage of the daily life and military missions of servicemen on the Alaskan Adak army base in 1943, which includes eating habits, religious services, armament particulars, bombing runs, and weather patters of the region.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Director, writer, editor, and narrator : John Huston.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact the Special Collections division of the University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reel | item | ||
| 1 | 1 |
Report from
the Aleutians 1 reel (47 minutes, 1616 feet) : sound, black and
white ; 16mm
Scenes of Allied servicemen stationed at the U.S. Army base on
Adak Island in the Aleutians. Aeriel views of the Aleutian Islands, and
depictions of daily tasks on the air base, including bombing runs, meals, and
relious observances.
|
1943 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Moving Image Collections (University of Washington)
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Alaska--Aleutian Islands--History
Corporate Names
- U.S. Army
Geographical Names
- Aleutian Islands
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Huston, John, 1906-1987 (director)
