Report from the Aleutians (1943)

With the usual patriotic music, narrating is done by then soldier and "Chinatown" director John Houston (now iconic director). Daily life is shown of troops assigned to stop Japan from controlling Alaska. Alaska had a series of islands that weren't that far from Japan. Although this won academy awards, its fairly typical until near the end. Houston almost died in a bombing run against the Japanese during attacks. SEE the entire film: http://www.archive.org/details/ReportFromTheAleutians Late in the film, an excellent narration of a typical bombing run. Its well filmed. You feel like you are really there. Kiska island was, at the time, occupied by 10,000 Japanese soldeirs, dug in the earth like moles to avoid the bombs preparing the way for a land assault by the U.S. "Director John Huston, and much later while a member of the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1943, creates an Academy Award winning documentary, which he narrates with assistance from his actor father Walter, treating of the Armed Forces' successful effort to prevent the fall of the Aleutian Islands to advancing Japanese troops who had captured several islets."---www.archive.org Lots of aerial bomber footage of planes taking off and landing on the steel carpet runway erected in just 3 days on a deserted, lonely island. Only raven birds fly the skies. Director: John Huston Producer: John Huston Narrator: John Huston Production Company: U.S. War Department Audio/Visual: sound, color Complete credited cast: John Huston ... Narrator (voice) Walter Huston ... Voices of officers (voice) Rest of cast listed alphabetically: Milton Ashkin ... Himself - USAAF Fighter Pilot (as Maj. Milton Ashkin) Lyle A. Bean ... Himself - USAAF Fighter Pilot (as Lt. Lyle A. Bean) Jack Chennault ... Himself - USAAF Fighter Pilot (as Col. Jack Chennault) C.M. McCorkle ... Himself - USAAF Commander (as Col. C.M. McCorkle) Hawley P. Nill ... Himself - USAAF Fighter Pilot (as Lt. Hawley P. Nill) William Prince ... Himself - USAAF Commander (as Col. William Prince) George I. Radell ... Himself - USAAF Fighter Pilot (as Lt. George I. Radell) Henry J. Strenkowski ... Himself - USAAF Fighter Pilot (as Lt. Henry J. Strenkowski) REVIEWS of the film: 1 A official documentary movie about the misson of the US forces on an island of the Aleutians, from which US bombers are attacking the Japanese occupied island Kiska. The movie includes footage from a bombing raid over Kiska with B-17 and B-24 bombers.-- Written by Stephan Eichenberg 2 The views of old aircraft in action would be of great interest to aviation fans. For most people, I'm sure this is film will be the only views of the Aleutian Islands most people will ever see! Certainly require viewing for any WWll buff! NOTES about the film: 1 "The work was made over a six month period, and is climaxed by the preparations for, followed by an actual filming of, a bombing run over Japanese-occupied Kiska, wherein Huston nearly lost his life, and which is significant for its combat footage and for the atmosphere of suspense present in the viewer who wonders if all will return safely." Runtime:47 min Sound Mix:Mono Color:Color (archive footage) Folks, if it were not for these guys on these Alaskan islands, we could all be wearing kimonos and sipping saki!