The Battle of San Pietro
About The Battle of San Pietro
John Huston's documentary covers the fight for San Pietro Infine, 60 miles from Naples, where the village blocked the Allied advance. The catalog says more than 1,100 U.S. soldiers were killed taking it. Huston and his crew, including Eric Ambler, were attached to the 143rd Regiment of the 36th Division. The picture was shown to U.S. troops before the 1945 public release. Peter Maslowski's 1993 book Armed With Cameras found that Huston's claim of filming during the battle was false.
Cast & crew
More about The Battle of San Pietro
John Huston directed and wrote it. Frank Capra is listed with him as producer. Wikipedia says Jules Buck shot it. Wikidata lists Huston as cinematographer. Dimitri Tiomkin is the composer on Wikidata. Running time 38 minutes. Wikidata dates a release May 3, 1945. Mark W. Clark appears. The Academy Film Archive preserved it in 2005.
Themes
Background
The battle was part of the Allied fight up Italy against German positions blocking the road.
Making
The crew was attached to the 143rd Regiment. The battle footage was not made in the way Huston later described.
Look
Wikipedia credits Jules Buck. Wikidata credits John Huston. Maslowski showed the combat-camera story was not true.
Music
Wikidata credits Dimitri Tiomkin.
Preservation
Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2005.
Notes
- Huston said the cameramen filmed beside the infantry on the hills. Maslowski showed that account was false.
- The village is San Pietro Infine, not a generic San Pietro.
- The catalog's death figure is more than 1,100 U.S. soldiers.
Scenes
- The advance toward the village is the picture's subject. The during-battle claim does not hold.
Also available
- Internet Archive (battle_of_san_pietro)
- Wikimedia Commons (The Battle of San Pietro (1945).webm)
