BATTLEFILM

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By Phillip W. Stewart

BATTLEFILM was selected as the Best History Book by Reader Views 2008 Annual Literary Awards and Award Finalist in the Military History category of the National Best Books 2007 Awards!

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The year is 1918. American “Doughboys” claw their way over-the-top of their trenches and charge into the smoke and cratered No-Man’s Land. A young Air Service Captain, by the name of Rickenbacker, twists and turns in his Spad pursuit airplane in mortal aerial combat with the “Hun” at 10,000 feet. U.S. Navy warships plow through high seas to protect a convoy of transports traveling slowly across the stormy Atlantic from the deadly German U-boat. These scenes of World War I action (and thousands more like them) exist today on silent, black and white motion picture film. They were shot on-location, as history happened, by dedicated and courageous U.S. Army Signal Corps soldier-cameramen. These historic films are now considered official records of the United States Government and are preserved at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) as part of what is one of the world's largest film archive, with holdings of over 350,000 reels of film. Most of the WWI titles are cataloged as part of the Record Group 111, Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. For the first time, in book form, there is concise information about the surviving motion pictures that were taken during what was known then as the Great War, over 90 years ago. BATTLEFILM: U.S. Army Signal Corps Motion Pictures of the Great War, details 467 film titles that cover America’s part in this conflict. Included are films produced and donated (or seized) by Allied and Central Powers countries. Each of the 957 reels of action is described using data gathered from actual Army records. This information-packed catalog and guide is designed to help you find the films and scenes you need through the books logical layout and an extensive index. The compiler and editor, Phil Stewart, also included the NARA catalog number for each title so that you can conduct further research or order a copy for your own film or video collection. Whether you’re a historian, media researcher, documentary producer, a student of film, or a re-enactor, this book provides an accurate and timeless reference to the moving images of America’s effort in the “War to End All Wars”. ===================================== REVIEWS: This book is one of a kind. It is destined to become an important resource for historians, media researchers, documentary producers, and students of films. There are 957 reels of footage shot during the years 1914-1918. These include the WWI era documentary films, in record group 111, held in the U.S. National Archives. Philip W. Stewart has produced an important work in his book "Battlefilm." -- Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views********** Battlefilm is confidently recommended as an indispensable reference work. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Phillip W. Stewart...A seminal work of exhaustive research characterized by a logical layout and an extensive index, "Battlefilm" is a superbly designed catalog of the WWI era documentary films in Record Group 111 stored at the US National Archives and specifically designed to help researchers, authors, and documentary film makers to find films and scenes they need. In addition to academic library Military History and Film Studies reference collections, "Battlefilm" is confidently recommended as an indispensable reference work for historians, media researchers, documentary producers, film students, and authors working on fiction as well as non-fiction works about American involvement in World War I. --Midwest Book Review********** BATTLEFILM, written by retired U.S. Air Force officer, Phillip W. Stewart is a catalog of the WWI era documentary films in Record Group 111 held at the U.S. National Archives. Being involved with documentary films myself, I appreciate good reference material. It's a 'must have' book if you happen to be looking for original film footage reagarding WWI. This is a very well organized and detailed catalog. --Tony Lazzarini, President Military Writer's Society of America.

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