(aka "The Pacific War" )

 

directed by René-Jean Bouyer
France 2000

 

Koch Vision releases another in its series of WW2 archive footage compilations, from programs originally broadcast on French television. “They Filmed the War in Color: The Pacific War” is a companion disc to “They Filmed the War in Color: France is Free.” Compared to its partner, “The Pacific War” is much heavier on combat footage, some of which is quite amazing. Among the highlights are the first battlefield use of napalm at Saipan, and some gripping aerial dogfights at the Marianas Turkey Shoot. Not all of the footage shows American troops at their most glorious. FDR wanted Americans back home to see dead and wounded soldiers so they could understand just how much the men were sacrificing. There is also a nerve-wracking series of shots of damaged planes struggling to land on an aircraft carrier.

As with “France is Free,” the footage is linked together with a narration that provides historical context and just enough of a story-line to keep the viewer hooked.

Film buffs will be amused to see John Ford’s recreation of Pearl Harbor. Filmed days after the actual attack, it was commissioned as a propaganda film, but rejected by the government because it looked to fake. Ford managed to recover from the box-office failure.

 

Christopher Long

Theatrical Release: French Television - June 2000

DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Koch Vision - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Christopher Long for the Review!

DVD Box Cover

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Distribution

Koch Vision

Region 1 - NTSC

Runtime 91 min.
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.75 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate

Audio Dolby Digital Mono
Subtitles none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Koch Vision

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:

DVD Release Date: 11-07-2006

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments The footage is drawn from various sources, shot both by professional and amateur filmmakers, and existing in various (rarely pristine) states of preservation. The colors are faded; the footage is grainy or washed-out in many cases, but the historical import more than makes up for the aesthetic shortcomings. It’s a non-progressive transfer, and there are many examples of significant combing.

I have enjoyed all of these discs (also including “Embedded ’45: Shooting War in Germany”) released by Koch in Region 1. I recommend them all.

 

 - Christopher Long

 

 






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DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Distribution

Koch Vision

Region 1 - NTSC


 




 

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