Movietone’s War Time News - Reported by Leslie Mitchell: 8th Army Moves into Florence

Series

Series Name
British Movietone News

Issue

Issue No.
793A
Date Released
17 Aug 1944
Date submitted
Aug 1944
Date submitted
15 Aug 1944
Stories in this Issue:

* Story has local or special distribution

Story

Story No. within this Issue
1 / 3
Section Title
Movietone’s War Time News - Reported by Leslie Mitchell
Summary
MOVIETONE CARD TITLE: 8th Army Moves Into Florence. DESCRIPTION: The Allied Armies have now reached Florence where they had to evict the Germans whilst preserving the historic city. The retreating Nazis had destroyed all the bridges over the Arno except for the Ponte Vecchio. SHOTLIST: Cut story - KS. Sherman tank into camera through dust. GS of Shermans on move. Shots of infantry over rubble in line enter town. GV of Florence. Allied troops search for snipers etc. Soldier fires revolver at lock of door, troops enter house, search same. GS of soldier using house as look-out. GV of city from same with Gothic Line in background. Gothic Line being very hilly. GVs of wrecked bridges in city, over the Arno river, with the exception of "Ponte Vecchio" bridge. British troops enter cheered by Italian civilians etc. "Patriots" assist soldiers by sniping at enemy resistance points. AFU - Shots of Shermans advancing, burning buildings on North of River Arno. Cathedral St Maria del Fiore in centre of city. Various pan shots of Florence. Scout Cars through streets reconnoitoring. Royal Palace of Florence, with Italian refugees in same, where they now sleep etc. Doumo Campanile undamaged shot from roof of Palace. GV of Palace & famous Church Spirito (of Santa). LS of enemy shelling, smoke rising. Shots of infantry on tanks fording River Greve. Infantry are Maoris. Maori reads notice in city. Various shots of bridges. Narrow streets lead to Ponte Vecchio, kitten only, otherwise deserted. Bren Gunner observes across river. Armoured cars move along road to city. Bren Carriers move up, shots of transport of New Zealand Division moving up. Tanks through streets. Vehicles pass Florence signpost. Troops entertain civilians, play ukulele. NZ infantry advance on Florence. Partisans snipe at Germans from doorway. S African tanks through hill town of ? and advance in close support. SA.
Keywords
Buildings and structures; Music and dance; Entertainment and leisure; Environment; Weapons; Fires; Celebrations and festivals; Victory celebrations; Displaced persons; War damage; Animals; Military
Footage sources
Army Film Unit
Card file number
45022
Credits:
Commentator
Leslie Mitchell
Length of story (in feet)
89
Story extras:
Film clip

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AP Archive
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Web
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How to cite this record

'Movietone’s War Time News - Reported by Leslie Mitchell: 8th Army Moves into Florence', British Movietone News Issue No. 793A, 17 Aug 1944. https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/newsonscreen/search/index.php/story/13190 (Accessed 01 Feb 2025)