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Amazon
Category:
Reference
Publisher: PMS Press
ISBN-10: 0981744494
Pages: 228
Copyright: June 28, 2014
ISBN-13: 9780981744490
BATTLEFILM II: More Motion Pictures of the First World War Held in the U.S. National Archives (2014)
Battlefilm II: More Motion Pictures of the First World War Held in the U.S. National Archives is the companion volume to the first book in The Historic Footage Project, Battlefilm: U.S. Army Signal Corps Motion Pictures of the Great War. Battlefilm II identifies and describes just over 1,000 films that are cataloged by the National Archives as being produced by non-Army organizations and agencies, both foreign and domestic. Assuming my addition is correct, between the two volumes, there are 1,490 WWI motion picture titles for investigation by Great War historians, re-enactors, documentarians, motion picture researchers, and enthusiasts of the time period.
Excerpt
From the Preface:
In my continuing effort to promote what I consider to be an underutilized visual resource of historic importance, I share with you this volume about the motion pictures of World War One held within the film vault of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
This is the companion volume to the first book in The Historic Footage Project – Battlefilm: U.S. Army Signal Corps Motion Pictures of the Great War. I have worked on this new book for over five years in an effort to get it published and into your hands before the centennial of the start of World War I. It appears that I made it just in time.
As mentioned in the Preface of the first Battlefilm book, most—but not all—of the motion pictures of the First World War held within America’s film vault, the National Archives, were produced by the U.S. Army Signal Corps. As further research would prove, I was mistaken. I should have used the term “many” not “most.” As things turned out Battlefilm II identifies just over 1,000 films that are cataloged as being produced by other organizations and agencies, both foreign and domestic. Assuming my addition is correct, between the two books then, there are 1,490 titles for you to review. Does that mean that I have all of NARA’s WWI films identified? As vast as the film vault is, I doubt it. Based on my experience, there is always at least a reel or three that refuse to cooperate with any inventory and hide in the corner of the wrong storage shelf.
This book, as well as all of my published work to date, is written out of a great appreciation of our country’s rich collection of motion picture recorded history and my desire to ensure that it’s preserved and accessible for future generations. It’s worth cherishing.
It is my sincere hope that you’ll find Battlefilm II: More Motion Pictures of the First World War Held in the U.S. National Archives to be a comprehensive resource, a superb historical research tool, and a valuable addition to your World War I library.
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