[POST-WW2 SILENT HOME MOVIE U.S. ARMY ENGINEER BATTALION IN OCCUPIED JAPAN]

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1940s

Description:

This silent, amateur home movie was shot in the immediate post-WWII period, most likely by a member of Company B of the 578th Engineer Battalion. This unit was part of the California National Guard and was headquartered stateside at the Azusa Armory; after participating in WWII the unit was eventually deployed to assist with the Korean Conflict. The film shows shots of unit members, including a personal look at the lives of the engineers. The film also features footage from Occupied Japan, primarily tourist scenes such as troops visiting local shrines. This film opens with shots of what might be the Azusa Armory but are more likely shot at an advance base in the Pacific or in Occupied Japan (:07). Soldiers of the 578 Engineer Combat Battalion move through the bottom screen (:21). Military covered vehicles and Army Jeeps stand nearby (:37). Close shots show troops throwing a football across base grounds (1:51). Troops stand near their tents (2:25). One man shakes out his blanket (2:38). Company B practices a drill (2:47). Shaky footage bounces over Fairchild C-82's (3:51). Close shots follow of troops (4:08) in their living quarters. A man of the company smiles for the camera as he smokes (4:35). Footage follows of a shore debris clearing somewhere in Japan (5:23). Shrines are filmed (5:33). A Japanese baby sits in a small toy car (5:45). Another shrine is pictured (5:55). An aerial shot of the city follows from the roof (6:08). The camera moves over what might be a school in Japan (6:37). A cyclist runs down the empty road (6:46). Color footage shows a man tipping his combat helmet for the camera man (7:42). Color shots follow around headquarters (7:47). The C-119 flying boxcar is pictured (8:16). This is what the C-82 ‘grew into’. Pilots take to the skies (8:34); a view follows from out of a lookout window at the plane’s wing. Another C-1119 flies alongside (8:51). Pilot and Copilot are filmed (9:40). Dark footage shows traffic cops guiding passenger vehicles and city busses (11:00). Ernie Pyle theater in Tokyo (12:31) follows. This was the central entertainment venue for the Allied forces erected in 1934. It was taken over by Allied forces at the close of the Second World War. Company B troops move in front of a yellow school bus (12:38). The Ernie Pyle theater is visible in the background, located in Tokyo, Japan. This was originally the Takarazuka Theater, at Yurakucho, which was requisitioned by Occupation forces from 1945-1952 for use as movie and stage theater for Allied military personnel. During this time it was named the "Ernie Pyle" theater, after the beloved American journalist killed in 1945 during the Iwo Jima campaign. Waterfalls bubble (12:58). Men smoke by the water; bridges run behind. Small fishing boats dot the waters as Japanese mountains rise around (13:17). One of the soldiers passes a smoke to a statue (14:02). Light green foliage runs along a waterway (14:17). Tent flaps move in the wind (14:30). Construction shots follow on the base (15:01). Troops hammer at the tents (15:24). The film begins to wrap up with colorful shots around the base (15:44). Tools for construction are laid out in the grass (16:04). A final shot shows a sign for Company B of the 578th Engineer Battalion orderly room (16:13). 

Complete Record: This silent, amateur home movie was shot in the immediate post-WWII period, most likely by a member of Company B of the 578th Engineer Battalion. This unit was part of the California National Guard and was headquartered stateside at the Azusa Armory; after participating in WWII the unit was eventually deployed to assist with the Korean Conflict. The film shows shots of unit members, including a personal look at the lives of the engineers. The film also features footage from Occupied Japan, primarily tourist scenes such as troops visiting local shrines. This film opens with shots of what might be the Azusa Armory but are more likely shot at an advance base in the Pacific or in Occupied Japan (:07). Soldiers of the 578 Engineer Combat Battalion move through the bottom screen (:21). Military covered vehicles and Army Jeeps stand nearby (:37). Close shots show troops throwing a football across base grounds (1:51). Troops stand near their tents (2:25). One man shakes out his blanket (2:38). Company B practices a drill (2:47). Shaky footage bounces over Fairchild C-82's (3:51). Close shots follow of troops (4:08) in their living quarters. A man of the company smiles for the camera as he smokes (4:35). Footage follows of a shore debris clearing somewhere in Japan (5:23). Shrines are filmed (5:33). A Japanese baby sits in a small toy car (5:45). Another shrine is pictured (5:55). An aerial shot of the city follows from the roof (6:08). The camera moves over what might be a school in Japan (6:37). A cyclist runs down the empty road (6:46). Color footage shows a man tipping his combat helmet for the camera man (7:42). Color shots follow around headquarters (7:47). The C-119 flying boxcar is pictured (8:16). This is what the C-82 ‘grew into’. Pilots take to the skies (8:34); a view follows from out of a lookout window at the plane’s wing. Another C-1119 flies alongside (8:51). Pilot and Copilot are filmed (9:40). Dark footage shows traffic cops guiding passenger vehicles and city busses (11:00). Ernie Pyle theater in Tokyo (12:31) follows. This was the central entertainment venue for the Allied forces erected in 1934. It was taken over by Allied forces at the close of the Second World War. Company B troops move in front of a yellow school bus (12:38). The Ernie Pyle theater is visible in the background, located in Tokyo, Japan. This was originally the Takarazuka Theater, at Yurakucho, which was requisitioned by Occupation forces from 1945-1952 for use as movie and stage theater for Allied military personnel. During this time it was named the "Ernie Pyle" theater, after the beloved American journalist killed in 1945 during the Iwo Jima campaign. Waterfalls bubble (12:58). Men smoke by the water; bridges run behind. Small fishing boats dot the waters as Japanese mountains rise around (13:17). One of the soldiers passes a smoke to a statue (14:02). Light green foliage runs along a waterway (14:17). Tent flaps move in the wind (14:30). Construction shots follow on the base (15:01). Troops hammer at the tents (15:24). The film begins to wrap up with colorful shots around the base (15:44). Tools for construction are laid out in the grass (16:04). A final shot shows a sign for Company B of the 578th Engineer Battalion orderly room (16:13).