Movietone’s War Time News - Reported by Leslie Mitchell: Western Front - Christmas 1944

Series

Series Name
British Movietone News

Issue

Issue No.
811A
Date Released
21 Dec 1944
Date submitted
Dec 1944
Date submitted
15 Dec 1944
Stories in this Issue:

Story

Story No. within this Issue
3 / 4
Section Title
Movietone’s War Time News - Reported by Leslie Mitchell
Summary
MOVIETONE CARD TITLE: Western Front - Xmas, 1944. DESCRIPTION: Troops on the Western Front this Christmas are battling with wintry conditions of flood and cold. In Holland some of the hospitals have introduced the Christmas spirit for the wounded with trees and decorations. Parties have been organised by officers and men for Dutch children, with food saved from their rations and toys made in their spare time. General Eisenhower sends Christmas wishes from the front on behalf of all servicemen be they British, American or French. SHOTLIST: Cut story - Various shots of floods in Germany, pulling reccy plane out of swamp. Yanks on roads, watch transport pass. Jeeps through flooded streets, also lorries. Other sectors, snowing heavily, bulldozers push snow aside to clear roads, elevated shots of countryside covered in snow. Troops march single file down into valley. American tanks fire their heavy guns, while stationary. In hospital in Holland, nurses & wounded decorate a Christmas tree, shots of wounded, officers & men of British regiment lay table, feed Dutch children, various shots of them eating. St Nicholas (Father Christmas equivalent) gives toys to kids, also with him is "Black Peter". British troops at Army depot, sort out mail, collecting (DRs.) parcels for delivery to troops. Eisenhower in Jeep arrives in field, steps out makes a speech (Christmas speech) to all of the Services serving in this one (one rep. from each). CU speaking, wishing everybody a Happy Christmas, then calls on a sailor to wish people a Happy Christmas. Finishes on Eisenhower speaking.
Keywords
Buildings and structures; Vehicles; Health and medicine; Food and cooking; Women; Weather; Environment; Customs and traditions; Weapons; Aviation; Communications; Celebrations and festivals; Postal services; War damage; Military
Footage sources
United States of America
Movietone
British Paramount
Pathe
Card file number
45366
Credits:
Commentator
Leslie Mitchell
Length of story (in feet)
289
Story extras:
Film clip

• The first time you use this link in a session, you will need to log on at the British Movietone website and then click this icon again to see the film. For the remainder of the session, this link will take you directly to the film.

This series is held by:

Film Archive

Name
AP Archive
Email
info@aparchive.com
Web
http://www.movietone.com
Phone
+44 (0)20 7482 7482
Series held
View all series held by AP Archive

How to cite this record

'Movietone’s War Time News - Reported by Leslie Mitchell: Western Front - Christmas 1944', British Movietone News Issue No. 811A, 21 Dec 1944. https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/newsonscreen/search/index.php/story/13324 (Accessed 08 Feb 2025)