The film was composed entirely of reenacted scenes. We speak with film historian mark harris. The book is titled five came back a story of hollywood and the second world war. Joining us from new york is mark harris. As he look at some of the leading directors, including john huston. What can you tell us about him . He was a fascinating larger than life figure. His career in hollywood was just starting when the war broke out. He had a nerdy well adolescence well adolescence. His reputation was not great. He came back to hollywood and started to build a reputation as a screenwriter, particularly with the help of william wyler. , he hadore pearl harbor his breakthrough success with the first movie he directed, the maltese falcon. He had a chance to make about one and two thirds more movies. He had to leave for the war and a service for the war before completing a movie he was making , which reunited the cast of the maki stopped in the maltese falcon. Want to ask you about one of two films he put together. This one was from 1945, let there be light. What did he bring to the american on the ends about this condition . It is a remarkable document three. Documentary. He was tasked with what the army felt it would be a propaganda film about psychologically scarred veterans. The propaganda element was that the movie was intended to show these men could recover incredibly quickly and the film was specifically intended to be aimed at american small and midsized businesses who needed to be told that it was safe to higher returning veterans. It would be easy to reintegrate them into society. John huston took that assignment eagerly and wanted to make that ofie and the last two thirds let there be light, which. Ocuses on miracle cures you are away from ok now im. Ok now im. Okinawa. You remember who you are now. Who are you . Dominik. That is right. He did the propaganda job in that movie, but the first searingis an absolutely and nonpropagandistic portrait of how just how shattered these men were by the war experiences. In theirhese young men intake interviews with Army Psychiatrist and they are just devastated, hollow eyed are you aware that you are not the same as when you went over . Do you feel changed . How long were you overseas . Were you any combat at all . This would have been the most and honest look that any american audience had ever gotten at the psychological trauma caused by war. I say would have been because the army suppressed the film. The army did everything in its power to prevent its release and the movie was not shown publicly until 1981. John huston spent decades trying to get it shown. Finally, thanks to the intervention of walter mondale. The censorship he faced, was that unusual for directors question mark was that unusual for directors . It was the only movie to be suppressed over a longterm. Films for were making the army, these directors constantly battled restrictions, accusations from the War Department that they were going off message, that they could not include footage of american bodies. They had to show soldiers as brave and confident. Those fights often resulted in changes. Very rarely did they result in the movie being suppressed altogether. We will show the film, the battle of san pietro. What can you tell us about this one . The battle of san pietro was shocked by john huston shot by john huston in italy. Frank capra told john huston to go to italy in search of a town that the bride images of things like joyful and grateful villagers emerging from their hiding places with rounds of cheese and loaves of bread to greet the victorious americans. John huston got to italy and town, but thet battle was already over. The town had been retaken. There were no villagers in sight. Was, with the full knowledge and enthusiastic cooperation of the army to restage the battle, this is all reenactment. Reenactments done on that location and with actual u. S. Soldiers, but none of it is real. It was very successfully passed off to the American Public as predominantly actual battle footage and the army put out press releases saying john huston and his men were so brave that they preceded the army on the front so that they could turn around and film the approaching, which is one way you always know that battle documentary has been faked. Film makers do not go first. What is interesting is even though this was a big piece of fakery, only a minute or two of it is real footage, it also visual forte a new what the battlefield looked like. John huston faked the movie because it was the only way he knew how to convey what he understood of the realities of Ground Combat and Ground Troops advancing. Which is something that had not been successfully shown in an american documentary before. What he is going for in the that is a kind of realism was very influential on many film makers after the war in terms of creating an understanding of how to shoot battle footage. Harris, thank you for that explanation. Here is that film. From the mid1940s by director john huston, the battle of san pietro. It was one of our strategic aims to draw as many German Forces as possible away from the russian front and french coastal areas and to contain them on the italian peninsula while liberating as much of italy as might be possible with the means at our disposal. As the bulk of our supplies was directed to england, for the forthcoming invasion, operations in italy had to be conducted on an extremely them did scale. It became about him during the winter months, the number of allied divisions in italy was reduced. Effort,mined was there they succeeded in holding in italy a very large number of german divisions. Pietro was the key to the valley. We knew it and the enemy night. And the enemy knew it. We had to take it even though the immediate cost would be high. By its very nature, the success worked bitter hardships upon each individual soldier, calling for his devotion. The response of the troops supply an inspiring page in our military history. To these individuals, living and dead, and to those who continue in their tradition, this picture is dedicated. The valley lies in the italian midlands 60 miles northwest of naples and 40 miles southeast of rome. A flight a flat court or enclosed between four walls a enclosed between four walls of mountains. With ancientoor vines, crops of wheat and corn, it is green the year around. It in normal times. Last year was a bad year for grapes and olives and the fall planting was late. Many fields lay sallow. Or are two ways from the south into the valley. There are two ways from the south into the valley. They converge before the site of the agent village of ancient village of san pietro. It is the threshold of the valley. He stones of its walls 2 at the last1 census. A farming community. Patron saint peter. Peters,interest, st. 1438. From the end about tober 1943 until the middle of december, san pietro and the surrounding grounds were some of the scenes were the scenes of some of the most bitter fighting. The Italian Campaign had entered the second phase. To push forward again. Our battle lines were a hazard of the terrain itself. It twisted back and forth against our line. Each river seemed like five. When there was no river to cross, a mountain blocked us. Each new peak have to be fought way. He hard, uphill the enemy had time to fortify and camouflage their position. No amount of artillery fire could force them to withdraw. That was for the infantry to do, employing those weapons. It was up to the man with a rifle, the man under fire from all weapons, the man whose way all our weapons serve only to prepare. Up to the foot soldiers to attack the hidden enemy. Nowhere along the entire front were enemy preparations more massive band the massive than that san pietro area. Runs the mostlley highly prized length of road south of rome. Why early december, we were holding high ground. An italian brigade had made a vain attempt to capture mount lungo. The italians were all but annihilated. Further operations against the Strategic Heights were abandoned. It was decided to make a direct frontal assault on enemy positions. N and around san pietro limits elements were rotated from position to position overlooking the valley so the troops might study the terrain ahead and compare viewpoints. Patrol activity would continue. They unite, units day and night, units one out to take prisoners and draw fire, adding to our information about the enemy. And points, mount lundo mount sammucro. The town itself was strongly garrisoned with numerous mortars, machine guns and heavy weapons. Four in me battalions were dug into a line of connected in a me battalions were dug into a line of connected trenches. Northeast across the valley floor to the base. Another battalion was organized to defend the high ground northwest of san pietro. Areas before these divisions were heavily mined and held the confusion of barb wire and boobytraps. ,n the afternoon before information communicated to the battalion commanders. 8, the First Battalion of the 143rd infantry regiment to attack the summit of 1205. They had moved up the mountain in the cover of darkness. The third ranger battalion to attack 950. Battalion of the one 43rd to attack northeast 143rd to attack northeast of san pietro. The third battalion, acting in support of the second. The original force to establish the beachhead, the 143rd had spent all but a fortnight in action under extremely bitter weather conditions. Taken mortalt had punishment. The task ahead promised no less bloodshed. The First Battalion began the long rugged climb. As night fell, the artillery opened up and tonight throughout the night hours, fire was laid down on the enemies mainline of positions. Enemys mainline of positioning. It had rained most of the night and was raining at each o hour. 200 yards, then counted nine automatic they encountered nine automatic fire. Artillery doubly accurate by reason of excellent enemy observation. Another 200400 yards. [gunfire] [explosions] many men gave their lives in attempts to throw hand grenades. Third battalion the advance never got more than 600 yards past the line of departure. Our initial assault on san , heavy casualties. The attack on 12 of five was a brilliant on 1205 was a brilliant success. A strongly entrenched enemy knew that an assault was in progress. To the right of 1205, the third ranger battalion had also captured its objective, but only casualties. The enemy was not taken unaware at 950. Counterattacks would be expected on both 1205 and 950. They were not long in developing. The first was launched during the early daylight hours. Day and night, they followed, unremitting violence. The toll of enemy dead mounted with each new attempt. German prisoners captured 1205 and 950 and said they had been ordered to retake those positions at all costs. In addition to defending 2105, the First Battalion undertook the reduction of enemy defenses organized along the ridge running west. [gunfire] on the 12th of december, the First Battalion was reinforced by the parachute battalion, which maintain the defenses of 1205 and 950, thereby enabling the First Battalion to throw at strength along the ridge. The first strength had dwindled and shrunk in the five days passed and there was now a question as to whether its existing members were sufficient to prevail. Reports during the night stated the in a me was offering enemy was offering bitter resistance and the issue was in grave doubt. Meanwhile, below, the second and third battalions had attempted to reach their objective. Both times they would come against a wall of automatic weapons and artillery fire. Volunteer patrols made desperate attempts to reach enemy positions. Member of any such patrol ever came back alive. Forces wereg furnished excellent aerial cover by alive patrol. But now and then, in a me planes were able to sneak through. Enemy planes were able to sneak through. To break the deadlock, orders were given for a coordinated divisional attack. The second and third battalions to proceed in the execution of the original orders. Acting in conjunction, company a of the tank battalion to attack san pietro from the east. One battalion to attack over the flat valley floor. After nightfall on dday, the 146 142bd Infantry Division to attack mount lungo. In preparation for the attack, all Army Artillery within range, including tanks, was directed against san pietro and the surrounding area. [gunfire] 1200 hrs, dday, the 15th of december. The 141st infantry some 400 yards from the line of departure. Held powerless under the weight of the enemy. The second and third battalions advance yards the on to their former positions to appoint a most directly [inaudible] for the third time, they were forced to take such cover as the quaking earth could offer. Were for the tanks to enter the town and locate and destroy the heavy weapons fire leveled against our foot soldiers. The high road into san pietro was a narrow Mountain Road and from the beginning of its winding descent, it was under direct enemy observation. 16 tanks started down that road. Three reached the outskirts of town. Of these, two were destroyed and one was missing. Five tanks were immobilized behind enemy lines, their crews having to abandon them. Five tanks get enemy mines and were destroyed by enemy gunfire. For tanks returned four tanks returned. One from the second and one from the third finally succeeded. They were forced to retire. Having been reduced in strength and company l faring little better. On the ridge, the First Battalion fought its way within a few hundred yards of the object of. Objective. It did not have strength to carry the fight any further forward. Lungo, however, battalions of the 142nd kept pushing upward. Daylightthe early hours of the 16th of december, the foot soldiers gained the summit and were wiping out what remained of a stubborn enemy. That height proved to be a key position in the enemy plan of defense. The enemy throughout the san pietro area made preparations to withdraw. Almost invariably, the enemy would counterattack. The first violent thrust was delivered in a few hours. And thereafter, counterattacks Many Companies lost all of their officers, enlisted men came forward as inspirational leaders to rally their battered companies. Our own artillery was with 100 ds of our frontline alleys allies. After five hours during which the earth never ceased to tremble, counterattacks ended, indicating the withdrawal of the enemys main body. In an effort to maintain contact with the enemy, our patrols immediately pushed ahead. Injuring the town they discovered, entering the town, they discovered san pietro was ours for the taking. The second and third battalions, past sanumbled forward pietro to consolidate gains and reestablish contact with the enemy. Now taking up new positions five kilometers beyond. That is the broad shape of the battle of san pietro, the first of many battles in the valley. It was a very costly battle. After the battle, the 143rd infantry infantry regiment required 1100 replacements. The lives lost were precious lives to their country, to their loved ones, and to the men themselves. For the living, more than 100 decorations for acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. Bees may many among knees have since joined the ranks of their brothers in arms. Se have among the since joined the ranks of their brothers in arms. More mountains, more towns, more san pietro, greater or lesser, 1000 more. As the battle passed over and beyond san pietro westward, townspeople began to appear, coming out of their caves in the mountains where they had stayed in hiding during the enemy occupation. They were mostly old people and children. The townspeople were warned against enemy mines and booby traps, which were in the process of being cleared. Children are able to forget quickly. Yesterday, they wept. Today, there are smiles. Tomorrow, it will be as though the bad things have never happened. Living was resumed in san pietro. Our prime military aim being to engaged the defeated enemy that the capture of the town and the liberation of its people. The people look upon as solely as there delivers. Their deliverers. Behind our lines, southwest of the seas, the fields are green with growing crops planted after are coming our coming. The earth was plowed and sewn. It should yield a good harvest this year. And the people prayed to their patron saint to intercede with god on behalf of those who came to deliver them and is passed on and half past on. And have passed on. John huston and the battle of san pietro. Joining us from new york is author mark harris. What is your take away from this film . It is easy to look at this film and say, gotcha. If you watch the movie knowing that it is restaged, some of the restaging becomes obvious. I feel there are beautiful and remarkable things in this movie that we now take for granted. For instance, the way the camera jumps and shakes when a grenade goes off or when there is purported in any fire. Fire. My that is a technique we understand now to be part of the language of war movies. It was something that john huston invented in. When john ford made the battle , he surprised people by leaving it in the movie. Realness,n understood roughness, rawness, imperfection could be taken by audiences as a sign of truth. It fakedhe fixed it with afaked powerful understanding of what he felt more really looks like. You cannot watch san pietro anymore and take it as truth. I went to the National Archives and washed the outtakes watched the outtakes. He systematically discarded anything that looked to clean, too perfect, too hollywood. That is a mark of a very smart filmmaker and someone who really understood that war movies were going to have to look different than they had looked until that point. As a document of film making history, i think it is fascinating. A a word document as document the links to which the army would go, including stretching the truth, it is an important part of americas war so making history. John hustons. Or is the awardwinning actress angelica huston. Daughter isstons the awardwinning actress angelica huston. Unlike many of the other directors, john huston directed vigorously until the very end of his life. Madell of the movies he were good. He ran into some financial problems and was very honest about the fact that he took certain jobs to get the paycheck. If you look at the movies he under theding, dead, they the are some of the best movies he ever made. Those who read the book five came back a story of hollywood and the second world war, what do you want the readers to take away from your research . Conveyed that i have to them something about what it was like to be a hollywood filmmaker in a world that is so different from the world we are in now. Imagine anceivable to war in which one third of hollywoods adult male