RICHLAND — The Battelle Film Club is presenting a couple of interesting World War II “documentaries” Friday night.
One, Resisting Enemy Interrogation is billed that way but it really isn’t. Originally intended as a teaching tool for soldiers preparing for combat, the flick is a drama about captured soldiers and how the Nazis used unique techniques to get information from them to win a battle.
It’s the adage loose lips — even when you think they aren’t loose — sink ships on celluloid, or in today’s case, on a digital CD.
Most fascinating are the uncredited stars. Many ended up as great character actors and TV stars of the late 1940s, 50s and 60s.
Arthur Kennedy is best known for his villainy in James Stewart's pic Bend in the River.
Don Porter played Sally Field’s dad in the 1965 TV flop Gidget.
Lloyd Nolan had a long film career and made TV history as the co-star of Julia. It starred Diahann Carroll who was the first African American to star in her own series as something other than household help.
Craig Stevens went on to be TV’s Peter Gunn.
Also notable is the appearance of singer/actor Mel Torme.
None of the actors are listed in the credits.
The second film is The Battle of San Pietro or San Pietro as was its original title and as it is listed by Internet Movie Database (IMDB).
It, too, lists few credits outside of the music provided by the Army Air Force Orchestra, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and St. Brendan’s Boy’s Choir.
The film is written, directed and narrated by John Huston. He gets no mention in the film credits.
The Battle of San Pietro is a “real” documentary and, when released in 1945, quite controversial. Huston shows the faces of dead soldiers and scenes where they are put in body bags. He graphically details the horror of war as wave after wave of soldiers assault Nazis entrenched in the mountains surrounding San Pietro, Italy.
In the 1940s, documentaries were still being narrated with a written and spoken-word style. When action happens in a documentary today, you simply watch. There is little in the way of descriptive dialogue.
Huston’s exceptional narrative has writing like that of the old newsreels that used to be shown before features in the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
It’s brilliant. Huston is also a consummate actor and demonstrates incredible skill as a narrator.
Both are fascinating trips into history.
Mr. Movie rating: 4 stars for both films
Not rated, probably PG. Both films show at the Battelle Auditorium Friday, April 8 only at 8 p.m.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it's your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on video.
2 stars to 1 star: Don't bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
