The True Glory

Plot

The True Glory is a comprehensive documentary that chronicles the Allied liberation of Western Europe during World War II, from the meticulous planning stages through to the final victory. The film begins with the massive buildup of Allied forces in Great Britain, showing the extensive training and preparation for what would become the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Using actual combat footage captured by nearly 1,400 military cameramen from multiple Allied nations, the documentary follows the brutal fighting across the beaches of Normandy, through the hedgerows of France, and into Belgium and the Netherlands. The narrative continues with the crucial Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes forest, the crossing of the Rhine River into Germany, and the eventual discovery of concentration camps that revealed the full horror of Nazi atrocities. The film culminates with the Allied forces reaching Berlin and the final surrender of Germany, presenting a powerful testament to the sacrifices made by soldiers and civilians alike. Throughout its runtime, the documentary emphasizes the multinational cooperation and immense human cost required to defeat Nazi tyranny in Europe.

Historical Background

The True Glory was produced and released in the immediate aftermath of World War II, a time when the world was still grappling with the scale of destruction and sacrifice that had occurred between 1939 and 1945. The film was created while memories of the war were fresh and the full extent of Nazi atrocities was still being discovered by Allied forces advancing through Germany. This period saw a concerted effort by Allied governments to document the war for historical purposes while also helping their populations understand the magnitude of what had been accomplished and the price paid for victory. The film emerged from the unique collaboration between the U.S. Office of War Information and the British Ministry of Information, reflecting the unprecedented level of cooperation between Allied nations during the war. Its release in November 1945 came just months after Germany's surrender in May and Japan's surrender in September, making it one of the first comprehensive cinematic accounts of the European war to reach civilian audiences. The timing was crucial as it served both as a historical document and as a tool to help process the collective trauma of war while honoring those who had fought and died.

Making Of

The making of 'The True Glory' was itself a monumental undertaking that began while World War II was still raging across Europe. The project was initiated by the U.S. Office of War Information and the British Ministry of Information as a way to document and preserve the historical record of the Allied liberation of Europe. Director Garson Kanin, serving as a Major in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, worked alongside British filmmaker Carol Reed to supervise the massive undertaking of collecting and organizing combat footage from multiple Allied nations. The production team established a special film unit in London where they received daily shipments of raw footage from the front lines. They had to work under extreme pressure to process, catalog, and select the most impactful sequences while maintaining military security protocols. The editing process was particularly challenging as the filmmakers had to construct a coherent narrative from footage shot by hundreds of different cameramen with varying levels of experience and equipment quality. The narration was written by celebrated authors including Eric Ambler and Peter Viertel, with different versions created for British and American audiences. General Eisenhower took a personal interest in the project, viewing rough cuts and providing input to ensure the film accurately represented the Allied effort and the sacrifices of the soldiers.

Visual Style

The cinematography of The True Glory is remarkable for its diversity and authenticity, representing the collective work of approximately 1,400 combat cameramen from multiple Allied nations. The visual style ranges from shaky handheld footage shot under fire to carefully composed sequences filmed by professional military photographers. The film showcases a variety of camera techniques and equipment used during WWII, including handheld 35mm cameras, gun-mounted cameras on aircraft and tanks, and hidden cameras used for clandestine operations. The cinematography captures the full spectrum of combat experiences, from the vast scale of the D-Day invasion with thousands of ships and aircraft to intimate moments of soldiers in foxholes and civilians liberated from occupation. The visual narrative employs effective contrast between peaceful pre-invasion preparations and the chaos of battle, between the mechanical precision of military operations and the human faces of war. The filmmakers made skillful use of available light and natural conditions, creating images that are both documentary records and powerful artistic statements. The color sequences, though limited, provide striking visual punctuation to the predominantly black and white footage. The cinematography achieves the difficult balance of being both technically impressive and emotionally resonant, serving the film's dual purpose as historical document and human drama.

Innovations

The True Glory represents several significant technical achievements in documentary filmmaking, particularly for its time. The most impressive technical accomplishment was the successful integration of footage from over 1,400 different cameras and cameramen, creating a coherent visual narrative from an unprecedented variety of sources. The production team developed innovative methods for cataloging, reviewing, and selecting from more than 10 million feet of raw footage, a massive undertaking that required new approaches to film management and editing. The film showcases various technical innovations in combat photography developed during WWII, including improved handheld cameras that could operate in extreme conditions, gun-mounted cameras that captured unique perspectives of combat, and specialized equipment for aerial and underwater photography. The synchronization of multiple camera angles to show complex operations like the D-Day landings demonstrated sophisticated editing techniques that were ahead of their time. The film's preservation of rare color footage from the war period represents an important technical and historical achievement, as color film was scarce and expensive during wartime. The documentary also pioneered techniques for combining footage from different film stocks and shooting conditions into a seamless visual narrative, maintaining visual consistency despite the diverse sources. These technical innovations not only made The True Glory possible but also influenced subsequent documentary and historical filmmaking.

Music

The musical score for The True Glory was composed by William Alwyn, one of Britain's most prominent film composers of the era. Alwyn's music provides a powerful emotional counterpoint to the visual imagery, enhancing the documentary's impact without overwhelming the authentic footage. The score combines martial themes that reflect the military nature of the operations with more poignant passages that underscore the human cost of war. Alwyn employed a full orchestra to create music that ranges from triumphant and heroic to somber and reflective, following the emotional arc of the Allied campaign from invasion to victory. The soundtrack also incorporates period-appropriate songs and military music that help establish the historical context of different scenes. The sound design is particularly noteworthy for its use of actual combat audio recorded on location, creating an immersive experience that puts viewers directly into the action scenes. The narration, whether delivered by General Eisenhower in the American version or Peter Ustinov in the British version, is carefully balanced with the music and sound effects to create a cohesive audio-visual experience. The soundtrack's effectiveness lies in its ability to enhance the emotional impact of the documentary while maintaining respect for the authenticity of the visual material.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening sequence showing the massive buildup of Allied forces in Britain, with endless convoys of troops and equipment preparing for the invasion
• The D-Day landing footage showing soldiers struggling through the surf on Omaha Beach under enemy fire
• The liberation of Paris with jubilant crowds welcoming Allied troops
• The discovery of concentration camps, showing the first footage that revealed the full horror of the Holocaust to Western audiences
• The final scenes in Berlin with the raising of Allied flags over defeated Germany
• The emotional reunions between liberated civilians and Allied soldiers
• The crossing of the Rhine River with massive airborne and amphibious operations

What Critics Said

Upon its release in 1945, The True Glory received widespread critical acclaim for its powerful and authentic portrayal of the war in Europe. Critics praised the film for its unflinching honesty and its ability to capture both the grand scale of the military operations and the individual human experiences of soldiers and civilians. The New York Times hailed it as 'a magnificent and moving record of courage and sacrifice,' while Variety noted that 'no fictionalized war picture can match the impact of this real footage.' Critics particularly appreciated the film's balanced approach, avoiding jingoism while still conveying the moral necessity of the Allied cause. The film's technical achievement in organizing and presenting footage from hundreds of sources was also widely recognized. In subsequent decades, film historians have continued to praise The True Glory as a landmark documentary that set standards for the genre. Modern critics often cite it as an example of how government-sponsored filmmaking can achieve both artistic merit and historical value. The film remains highly regarded for its role in preserving authentic visual records of World War II for future generations.

What Audiences Thought

Contemporary audience reception to The True Glory was overwhelmingly positive, particularly among veterans and their families who recognized the authenticity of the footage and the accuracy of the portrayal. The film resonated deeply with audiences in 1945 who had lived through the war and had personal connections to the events depicted. Many viewers reported being deeply moved by seeing actual combat footage rather than Hollywood's version of war, with some theaters reporting that audiences sat in stunned silence during screenings. The film was particularly popular in Britain and the United States, where it played to packed houses in major cities. Veterans' organizations praised the film for its respectful treatment of the soldiers' experiences and its comprehensive coverage of the Allied effort. In the years following its release, The True Glory became a staple in schools and military training institutions, where it was valued for its educational content and historical accuracy. Modern audiences encountering the film through archival screenings and home video continue to be impressed by its raw power and authenticity, with many noting that its impact remains undiminished despite the passage of decades and the proliferation of later war documentaries.

You Might Also Like