To the Shores of Iwo Jima
About To the Shores of Iwo Jima
In Kodachrome, the short follows Marines from the naval and carrier bombardment of Iwo Jima through the fight. It shows the capture of Mount Suribachi and then cuts to the second flag-raising, not the first. The close gives a figure of 4,000 dead in a month and says those deaths were not in vain. A bomber takes off from the island for a mission over Japan.
Cast & crew
More about To the Shores of Iwo Jima
Milton Sperling directed and produced this Navy and Marine Corps short. It was released on June 7, 1945. Some of the footage was shot at Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks, California, as well as on Iwo Jima. William Lava composed the music.
Themes
Background
American audiences had not yet seen the Iwo Jima flag-raising in color. This short was the first time they did.
Look
Norman Hatch is the credited cinematographer. The flag-raising sequence in the film was shot by Sergeant Bill Genaust.
Music
William Lava composed the score.
Preservation
A print is held by the National Archives and Records Administration, catalog 13089. The Internet Archive also has a copy.
Notes
- Four cameramen were killed in action. Ten other camera operators were wounded.
- United States Marine Corps Sergeant Bill Genaust, who filmed the flag-raising sequence, was one of the four killed.
Scenes
- Warships and carrier planes shell and bomb the island before the landing.
- The film leaves the fight for Suribachi and cuts to the second flag-raising.
- A bomber lifts off the captured island for Japan.
Also available
- Internet Archive (iwojima)
- Wikimedia Commons (To the Shores of Iwo Jima, reel 1.webm)
- National Archives and Records Administration (catalog 13089)