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Movietone’s Wartime News - Reported by Leslie Mitchell: North Africa - Allies Call the Tune

Series

Series Name
British Movietone News

Issue

Issue No.
703
Date Released
23 Nov 1942
Date submitted
19 Nov 1942
Stories in this Issue:
  1. 1Movietone’s Wartime News - Reported by Leslie Mitchell: North Africa - Allies Call the Tune

Story

Story No. within this Issue
1 / 1
Section Title
Movietone’s Wartime News - Reported by Leslie Mitchell
Summary
MOVIETONE CARD TITLE: North African Combined Operations. DESCRIPTION: Cameramen at all points have gathered from front-line positions. These Movietone pictures of the most momentous "Combined Operation", which gives us control of the Western Mediterranean. SHOTLIST: Cut Story - Valentine and Crusader tanks on Quay being loaded aboard ship. Pan of Carlett Park. Birkenhead showing concentration of lorries - Bofors - tanks etc.. Crusader on train passing camera. US troops on railway platform and embarking on ship. Elevated shots of ships in dock. Lorries and tanks being swung aboard. Group of officers in conference for landing details. Landing troops being inspected on deck. Troops sliding down side of ship into ALC’s. ALC heaves off - being thrown about in choppy sea. ALC’s approach beach. Jeep towing gun coming off (25 pounder). ALC’s almost covered by water. Various shots of coast. US troops running up beach, one carries flag. LS Casablanca parts of which can be seen burning. French Admirals and Army Officers leaving government building. Germans being taken onto beach for exercise. GV Tangier off coast. Also harbour port - ships being unloaded. Tram through street crowded with civilians. Elevated shot of US troops disembarking - others march off dock led by bagpipes. French Admiral salutes American Flag. CU General Nogues and General Juin. US and White Ensign flying over building. Civilians cheer our troops - booing Italians being taken away. GV convoy. Commander and Captain looking through telescope - various shots of Naval escort showing new Aircraft Carrier "Victorious" and Rodney in rear. LS Carrier firing her guns. Various shots of naval ships. Shot of Ack-Ack. Some of the ships in the convoy are liners. LS Bi-plane landing on carrier, other Spitfires & Hurricanes flying overhead. Cuts - Pan of army vans parked in park, they begin to move off towing AA guns. Dock tug under way. Large crane at work pan up jib. Looking forward at bows of ship. GS of docks & scenes. Soldier checking army lorries as they are about to be loaded on board. CU Bogey wheels of Crusader tank. Looking up at tank as it is swung aboard. Tank into camera into hold, various scenes of loading. Soldiers on board waving. Various shots of convoy including naval escort. AA guns manned on Algiers dock by our men, gendarme looks on. Tracers at night, GS of motor boats, ALC’s under own steam. Army officers looking out to sea through binoculars. Destroyer with Carrier in rear. Night shots of troops landing, also dawn shots. AA guns sinking in sand. Avenue of palm trees, various shots of cities. GS Hangars with Spitfires on airport; German troops carrying planes on aerodrome. Shot of under carriage showing bombs attached. French tanks, undamaged. GS of Algiers docks. Majority of this is at Algiers, but other places included are Casablanca, Feeala, Fort Blondin. Yanks rounding up resistors, sniping etc. in town, several shots of ruined buildings. French officers into car which drives off. Sheds hit on docks at Casablanca. Pan of ruins of docks. Late Arrivals - Barnett’s (2869ft) Oran natives & US troops riding in Jeep. GS of tent camp, with buildings background, believe it to be a school. MS two doughboys sitting in tent. Jeep passing through street & out of camera, also armoured cars. Doughboys marching through streets. Aerial pan of Oran. Crew of wireless detectors at ‘action stations’. GS Admiral (unnamed) taken through porthole. Doughboys marching through streets, various angles. Troops passing under a bridge, background countryside. Yanks leaning over rail of ship looking towards shore. WRNS on board ship waving. Doughboys walking along in file, not marching. AA gun on ship with crew standing by, in background merchant ship. Elevated shot of troops aboard ship, also GS of convoy. Paramount - Dawn shots of convoy near coast, various. AA guns firing, various angles. Pan of convoy. Universal - CU native. Army officers taking a drink. Aerial shot of Algiers. Unloading Bofors from ALC’s. Elevated dock scenes, disembarking etc. Merchant ship entering harbour. US flag flying over badly hit castle. Various smashed guns light & heavy. Damaged RAF planes. Catalina landing on aerodrome, & out of camera.
Keywords
Buildings and structures; Ships and boats; Music and dance; Vehicles; Women; Environment; Weapons; Aviation; Railways; Transport; Industry and manufacture; Ceremonies; Police; War damage; Prisoners of war; Navy; Military
Footage sources
Army Film Unit
Gaumont
British Paramount
Pathe
Rota
Card file number
43107
Credits:
Camera
Jack Barnett
Commentator
Leslie Mitchell
Length of story (in feet)
530
Story extras:

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Film Archive

Name
AP Archive
Email
info@aparchive.com
Web
http://www.movietone.com
Phone
+44 (0)20 7482 7482
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