BAPTISM OF FIRE

Year Published: 1943

Description: This notable film "Baptism of Fire" was produced by the US Army Pictorial Services in WWII. It was created as part of the "Fighting Man" series of films, to prepare U.S. Army recruits for the grim business of combat against Axis troops. The film has impressive production values and a highly realistic (for the time) battle sequence. After it was released in 1943, the film was nominated for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards (it was also nominated for an Oscar in 1944). The film's plot surrounds the narrative of a G.I. named Bill; who is played by Elisha Cook Jr. Bill is a green recruit who is new to the front and preparing for his first taste of battle. The film was intended to teach fighting men that by acquiring knowledge, such as how to identify the enemy and learning the basics of how to fight hand to hand, they might reduce their anxiety, and achieve more personal security leading to a higher chance that they will be effective and both survive combat and succeed in the mission. The film opens as the Radio Telephone Operator or RTO spots enemy planes flying in formation (:23). He calls the sighting in and the men are called to action (:43). Whistles blow, soldiers dive into dug outs and ready their weapons for firing (:55). The sergeant receives a call the planes have moved to a different direction (1:12). The young soldier Bill appears (2:02) as he is called for detail. An Army ambulance sits spinning stuck in the mud (2:29). As the men work to free the entrenched vehicle, Jim is recognized by a wounded soldier within the ambulance (3:33). Some of the soldiers drift to sleep against their machine guns en route (5:07) to relieve a squadron. Soldiers discuss the moment with which the battle becomes real and is no longer practice maneuvers (5:42). The group jumps from their transport vehicle to rest (6:48). Jim is instructed not to allow worry of the worst to consume him but to learn as much about the enemy and the situation as he can (7:19). Jim reminisces about home (8:24). He says goodbye to his girl Jane (9:17) at the gate. Men are called back to the vehicle (10:58). Foot soldiers move alongside tanks (12:55) cutting tracks into the dirt. The squadron leader reminds men of the mission noting the enemy position (14:24). Soldiers express anxiety over the quiet; the waiting period prior to the start of a mission (14:50). A whirring sings through the air and a bomb hits the ground throwing dirt as Bill and a comrade duck for cover (15:22). The sound of explosions increase and draw nearer (15:59). The signal is called and the men spring from dug out positions (16:27) into action. Long range guns rip holes in the earth (17:02). A sentry gun blows back (17:12). Fighter planes zoom in (17:30). One after another, German Stuka planes break from formation to dive bomb and strafe, (18:03) as Jim watches from below. Soldiers drop to the ground (18:24). Jim begins to feel more confident in his movements (19:30). A burning man escapes from his tank (20:10). Bill finds Pete as he begins to freeze in his position (20:35). The character Pete; played by Peter Whitney, (20:51) drops his rifle in a panic and runs into Jim and Bill. Jim readies his rifle (22:09) noticing the Nazi soldiers making an error and ‘bunching up’. A fellow combat soldier is hit in the throat (22:48). Jim hesitates to fire at an enemy soldier as a friendly soldier swoops in with a bayonet (23:38) saving the green soldier. Jim recognizes his rifle is smashed (24:20) lying next to a dead man. He snags the dead soldiers rifle and canteen (25:07). He recalls being warned of momentary paralysis during training (25:33). Bill is found wounded (26:12), hit by a sniper. Pete and Jim set the wound (26:57). Jim shoots his first Nazi soldier (27:31) and discovers more confidence. As the fighting lines mingle, men begin to fight hand to hand (29:06). Jim successfully bayonets an attacking Nazi soldier (30:02). Pete and Jim fight side by side (30:32). Combat subsides as the wounded are lifted on litters from the battle field (31:21). An RTO calls in the information that the objective had been reached (31:34) as his own wounds are dressed. The wounded and more seasoned soldiers return to the convoy (32:37). The trio mull over the recent battle and what went wrong and right as others celebrate their win in a tavern (33:12). This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Transcript Follow along using the transcript. Show transcript PeriscopeFilm 759K subscribers Videos About Support Us on Patreon

Complete Record: This notable film "Baptism of Fire" was produced by the US Army Pictorial Services in WWII. It was created as part of the "Fighting Man" series of films, to prepare U.S. Army recruits for the grim business of combat against Axis troops. The film has impressive production values and a highly realistic (for the time) battle sequence. After it was released in 1943, the film was nominated for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards (it was also nominated for an Oscar in 1944). The film's plot surrounds the narrative of a G.I. named Bill; who is played by Elisha Cook Jr. Bill is a green recruit who is new to the front and preparing for his first taste of battle. The film was intended to teach fighting men that by acquiring knowledge, such as how to identify the enemy and learning the basics of how to fight hand to hand, they might reduce their anxiety, and achieve more personal security leading to a higher chance that they will be effective and both survive combat and succeed in the mission. The film opens as the Radio Telephone Operator or RTO spots enemy planes flying in formation (:23). He calls the sighting in and the men are called to action (:43). Whistles blow, soldiers dive into dug outs and ready their weapons for firing (:55). The sergeant receives a call the planes have moved to a different direction (1:12). The young soldier Bill appears (2:02) as he is called for detail. An Army ambulance sits spinning stuck in the mud (2:29). As the men work to free the entrenched vehicle, Jim is recognized by a wounded soldier within the ambulance (3:33). Some of the soldiers drift to sleep against their machine guns en route (5:07) to relieve a squadron. Soldiers discuss the moment with which the battle becomes real and is no longer practice maneuvers (5:42). The group jumps from their transport vehicle to rest (6:48). Jim is instructed not to allow worry of the worst to consume him but to learn as much about the enemy and the situation as he can (7:19). Jim reminisces about home (8:24). He says goodbye to his girl Jane (9:17) at the gate. Men are called back to the vehicle (10:58). Foot soldiers move alongside tanks (12:55) cutting tracks into the dirt. The squadron leader reminds men of the mission noting the enemy position (14:24). Soldiers express anxiety over the quiet; the waiting period prior to the start of a mission (14:50). A whirring sings through the air and a bomb hits the ground throwing dirt as Bill and a comrade duck for cover (15:22). The sound of explosions increase and draw nearer (15:59). The signal is called and the men spring from dug out positions (16:27) into action. Long range guns rip holes in the earth (17:02). A sentry gun blows back (17:12). Fighter planes zoom in (17:30). One after another, German Stuka planes break from formation to dive bomb and strafe, (18:03) as Jim watches from below. Soldiers drop to the ground (18:24). Jim begins to feel more confident in his movements (19:30). A burning man escapes from his tank (20:10). Bill finds Pete as he begins to freeze in his position (20:35). The character Pete; played by Peter Whitney, (20:51) drops his rifle in a panic and runs into Jim and Bill. Jim readies his rifle (22:09) noticing the Nazi soldiers making an error and ‘bunching up’. A fellow combat soldier is hit in the throat (22:48). Jim hesitates to fire at an enemy soldier as a friendly soldier swoops in with a bayonet (23:38) saving the green soldier. Jim recognizes his rifle is smashed (24:20) lying next to a dead man. He snags the dead soldiers rifle and canteen (25:07). He recalls being warned of momentary paralysis during training (25:33). Bill is found wounded (26:12), hit by a sniper. Pete and Jim set the wound (26:57). Jim shoots his first Nazi soldier (27:31) and discovers more confidence. As the fighting lines mingle, men begin to fight hand to hand (29:06). Jim successfully bayonets an attacking Nazi soldier (30:02). Pete and Jim fight side by side (30:32). Combat subsides as the wounded are lifted on litters from the battle field (31:21). An RTO calls in the information that the objective had been reached (31:34) as his own wounds are dressed. The wounded and more seasoned soldiers return to the convoy (32:37). The trio mull over the recent battle and what went wrong and right as others celebrate their win in a tavern (33:12). This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Transcript Follow along using the transcript. Show transcript PeriscopeFilm 759K subscribers Videos About Support Us on Patreon