HOME MOVIES: 1945

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1945

Format: 16mm

Description: Shot by an unknown American who worked for the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII, either as an airman, pilot or (most likely) maintenance worker, this home movie shows views of Rome and Milan in 1945, as well as views of an airfield, possibly Foggia. Most if not all of the footage likely dates from the immediate post-war period, as it contains footage in Milan, which was not occupied by the Allies until the very end April of 1945, just about a week before the war in Europe ended. The film begins with footage shot in Rome, including the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, also known as Vittoriano or Altare della Patria (:47), the Forum (1:42), Coliseum (3:21), Trevi Fountain (4:56), St. Peter's Square (5:23), and the Castel San Angelo (7:09). At (7:44) an Airspeed AS.51 Horsa, RAF / British troop-carrying glider lands at a military airfield. At (7:56), ground crews are shown working on a C-47 engine replacement. At (8;12) a C-47 "Tin Lizzie" gets service. At (8:17) a tent indicates 4th Engineering Squadron. At (8:23) another C-47 marked "Texas Belle" is shown, along with engines in crates. At (8:48) a replacement engine is moved by aircrew. At (9:40), views of Venice, Italy and its canals as well as St. Mark's Square. At (11:55) an airman drinks from a bottle on a crowded beach. A sign at (12:13) identifies this as an Army Rest Center, Lido, Venice. At (12:21) another sign announces that this place is known as "U.S.A. Rest Center Coney Island". At (12:33) a DUKW is shown. At (12:46), ruins of a house and other buildings at a coastal town. At (13:54) a man in a swimsuit approaches the camera. At (14:42) a Military Policeman or M.P. dozes in the heat. At (14:56), three Italian women pose for the camera. At (15:12), a baseball game is shown. At (16:02), there are explosions shown across a lake, possibly detonating unexploded ordnance. At (16:18), aerial shots of Italy followed at (16:49) with shots of downtown Milan including the cathedral and at (18:00) the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. At (18:48), an Avro York heavy transport is shown on the runway. The film ends with additional shots in Venice.

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