A Preview to Invasion (Universal Newsreel, Jun 1944)

Description

The original release sheet reads: 1. A PREVIEW TO INVASION: With every American tensely waiting every bit of information on the invasion battles in France, we deem it our public duty to present a pictorial record of how the invasion looked when rehearsed in various training areas abroad.—Supreme Commander Gen. Dwight Eisenhower's historic invasion message is heard as the landing barges plunge through the waves, with swarms of protective planes overhead. Battleships roar. Thousands of commando parachutists float to earth.—We see the Nazis practicing their defense. Huge guns are manned and their machine guns spit their staccato messages of death. Our barges land. Our troops leap ashore, hack their way through the barbed wire, and all participants are fit and ready for the actual invasion of Nazi Europe.—AMERICA RECEIVES THE NEWS: Electric signs in New York City and Philadelphia carry the news of the landings in France to millions of city dwellers. The newsrooms of the giant radio networks turn into beehives. The churches of the nation are jammed with devout parishioners, who are praying from the depth of their hearts for their loved ones in the services. And Gen. George Marshall and Gen. Hap Arnold enter the electrified atmosphere of the White House.—DESTRUCTION OF THE LUFTWAFFE: Miraculous pictures of Nazi planes getting blown to bits (in the sky and on the ground), and of other feats of marksmanship by fleets of Allied airmen. 2. FIRE AND RUINS IN BERLIN: Huge clouds of smoke enshroud large burning areas of Berlin. And other sections of the Nazi capital are shown in utter ruin. 3. BEAUTIES REAP FLAX: KARNES COUNTY, TX - Patriotic girls, enlisted in the "Harvest Brigade," operate self-propelled harvesters in local flax fields. The brigade will cut huge swaths through the grain fields, all the way to Canada. 4. KING AND THE GRAND FLEET: King George VI inspects units of the Grand Fleet which is massed for important duties.—BABY SUBMARINES: British 2-man submarines are seen. The men, dressed in diving suits, sit on a torpedo and operate special releasing mechanism. 5. 474 NEW "GENERALS": WEST POINT - Graduation exercises are held for the '44 class. Lt. John Eisenhower draws special attention, but the marrying chapel gets very special attention. 6. SUDS FOR G.I'S.: The British sailors have their grog—now the G.I. Joes in Italy get their American beer from a Naples brewery. It's a stirring sight to see the boys go for the stuff—they even rise from the earth to get a snootful.

Collection

MCA/Universal Pictures Collection

Series

Motion Picture Releases of the Universal Newsreel Library