841. Orchids and Other Flora of Tropical America (10:43)

Date:
1942
Main contributors:
United States. Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, The National Geographic Society
Summary:
Described as a film portraying "twenty types of orchids and other flora of South and Central America and the conditions under which they grow" (U.S. Government Films, U.S. Office of Education, 1954, 134), its underlying subject is enchantment with the projected image itself. The color palette of Kodachrome reversal film is on display, capturing the faces of young women posed with exotic tropical flowers. The natural riches of Latin America --cacao, mangoes, and coffee--are presented for the delectation of audiences to the north. One of many similarly-styled productions in the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs catalog of short, documentary subjects, this film contributes to the war era campaign to sway popular opinion toward a spirit of allegiance and neighborly-ness between the nations of the Americas.

842. Negro colleges in war time (08:28)

Date:
1943
Main contributors:
United States. Office of War Information. Domestic Branch. Bureau of Motion Pictures
Summary:
Presents the wartime activities of four African American colleges--Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, Prairie View College in Texas, Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Hampton Institute in Virginia.

843. Paratroops (09:00)

Date:
1943
Main contributors:
United States. Office of War Information. Domestic Branch. Bureau of Motion Pictures
Summary:
"A quick overview of the weeks spent in learning to jump, tumble, and fall, in practice jumping from a tower and from a dummy plane, in packing the parachute one's life depends on, in learning to jump from a plane in half a second, to guide a chute by working the shroud cords, to land without splintering a leg, to disengage the chute and come up fighting."--War Films, Bulletin of the Extension Division, Indiana University, February, 1943.

844. Three cities (10:44)

Date:
1944
Main contributors:
United States. Office of War Information. Domestic Branch. Bureau of Motion Pictures
Summary:
How workers in three American cities solved wartime living problems in 1944.

845. Troop train (11:01)

Date:
1943
Main contributors:
United States. Office of War Information. Domestic Branch. Bureau of Motion Pictures
Summary:
Shows the movement across the country in 1943 of the 201st Armored Division.

846. U.S. news review. Issue no. 2 (18:51)

Date:
1942
Main contributors:
United States. Office of War Information. Domestic Branch. Bureau of Motion Pictures
Summary:
News stories include civilians giving up travel to enable the movement of soldiers, how a truck operates as a laundry at the front, the highway from Seattle through Canada to Alaska is completed, a report on the campaign in New Guinea, a sing-along version of The Marines' Hymn.

847. U.S. news review. Issue no. 3 (19:26)

Date:
1942
Main contributors:
United States. Office of War Information. Domestic Branch. Bureau of Motion Pictures
Summary:
News stories include the introduction of the Mosquito reconnaissance bomber, the war in New Guinea, urging those at home to repair appliances as new ones are not available, the bombing on Naples, Italy, a letter to his fellow workers from machinist Arthur Hocking whose son has been killed in the war urging them to do everything possible to wind up the war, the United States Coast Guard song is played over scenes of Coast Guard life.

848. U.S. news review. Issue no. 4 (17:26)

Date:
1943
Main contributors:
United States. Office of War Information. Domestic Branch. Bureau of Motion Pictures
Summary:
This newsreel covers six subjects. "The Raiders of Timor": recounts how Australian troops were forced to hide in the mountains on the island of Timor when the Japanese military conquered the island. The Australians conducted asymmetrical warfare against the superior Japanese forces. Their time as guerrilla soldiers and their recovery from the Australian Army is retold through reenactments. "Army Salvage": shows how the Army is recycling obsolete munitions and tanks from museums and warehouses into new weaponry. "We Guard Britain's Books": records how the British were using microfilm to reformat their rare books to provide a back-up copy in case the original texts were destroyed through German bombing. The microfilms are shipped to America and stored in the Library of Congress where they are accessioned, inspected, cataloged, and stored on shelves. "Good News from the Fishing Front": depicts how Canadian fishermen are increasing their yield to aid with food shortages in the U.S. Shows the repairing of nets and the hauling in of a 500-ton catch of herring. "Battle in the Caucasus": uses combat footage to tell how the Soviet military defeated German forces in a battle in the mountains of the Caucasus region on November 19, 1942. "Thingummybob: A Factory Song From Australia": a woman sings a song accompanied by a military band for workers at a factory. The Song celebrates female workers who worked on the production line to make equipment for the war. The chorus goes "I'm the girl that makes the thing/ that drills the hole that holds the ring /that drives the rod that turns the knob/ that works the thingummybob."

849. U.S. news review. Issue no. 5 (15:47)

Date:
1942
Main contributors:
United States. Office of War Information. Domestic Branch. Bureau of Motion Pictures
Summary:
Newsreel contains stories about Veronica Lake getting her hair cut to promote worker safety, how absence from factory jobs can affect soldiers, how women going to war is affecting the care of children, British planes bomb Bremen, a sing-along version of the Army Air Corps song.

850. When work is done (09:04)

Date:
1943
Main contributors:
United States. Office of War Information. Domestic Branch. Bureau of Motion Pictures
Summary:
Tells how Sylacauga, Alabama, a small town crowded with war plant workers, solved its housing and recreation problems.

851. Youth farm volunteers (04:57)

Date:
1942
Main contributors:
United States. Office of War Information. Domestic Branch. Bureau of Motion Pictures
Summary:
Shows how the Extension Service of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture helped recruit and place young people from towns and cities on farms during World War II to combat farm labor shortage.

852. Report from Russia (08:00)

Date:
1942
Main contributors:
United States. Office of War Information. Domestic Branch. Bureau of Motion Pictures.
Summary:
Tells of the energy, the courage, and the efforts of the Russians behind the front lines in World War II. Shows the holding and striking power of Russia.

853. The enemy strikes (11:54)

Date:
1945
Main contributors:
United States. War Department
Summary:
Uses captured German footage to show the unexpected Nazi counter-attack at the Battle of Ardennes, begun on December 16, 1944. Extends a plea for the American people to remain in their war-time jobs.

854. Film Communique: Seventh Issue (21:40)

Date:
1944
Main contributors:
United States. War Department, The Signal Corps : produced by, Combat film units of Marines, Army Airforces, United States Navy
Summary:
Addressed to "the men and women of American Industry," the Film Communique series reports on military accomplishments to an audience of domestic workers producing materials for war. Composed of three short segments: Burma Outpost Shows the air dropping of supplies for the 10th Air Force Division at outposts in the hills of Burma's border. Private Snafu: The Home Front Cartoon intended for servicemen is here presented for civilian audiences. Private Snafu imagines his loved ones loafing and enjoying life, oblivious of his hardships. A fairy appears to show him the diligent war work going on back in his home town. What Makes A Battle Shows the strategy and battles involved in the first land penetration of Japanese-held Marshall Islands, part of the campaign for the 32 Marshall Island atolls.

855. Film Communique: Eighth Issue (20:34)

Date:
1944
Main contributors:
United States. War Department, The Signal Corps : produced by, Combat film units of Marines, Army Airforces, United States Navy
Summary:
Addressed to "the men and women of American Industry," the Film Communique series reports on military accomplishments to an audience of domestic workers producing materials for war. Composed of five short segments: Cape Gloucester Jan 18 1944 Title card reads "1st Marine Division. Photo by Lt. R.S. Carter 7th Marines - leaving front - 23 day & nites in same clothes - fighting Japs - U.S.M.C." candid footage of battle-weary marines presented without commentary. R.A.F. and 8th Air Force Report From Britain An aerial photographer follows daring French pilots of the R.A.F., flying at low altitude to evade radar detection, attacking a Nazi target in American-built A-20 bombers. A 5th Air Force Report From New Guinea shows the ingenuity of ground crew men in repairing battle-damaged planes at an air depot in New Guinea. A Few Quick Facts animated sequence shows the distance a rifle bullet must travel before it reaches the Pacific battle lines to be fired at an enemy soldier. A Fifth Army Report From The Beachhead shows the surprise invasion at Anzio, Italy, commentary describes "one of the boldest and toughest combined operations fought by the Fifth Army on the blood-soaked Italian boot." [see standalone short: http://collections.libraries.iub.edu/IULMIA/items/show/93]

856. My Japan (16:19)

Date:
1945
Main contributors:
United States. War Finance Division
Summary:
Presented as an authentic message from the Japanese people to the American people, this film is actually a fake newsreel designed to counter any views the American moviegoer might have had about the Japanese being a backwards nation. The film employs a white American in yellowface as the Japanese narrator who describes the modern, technological Japan capable of withstanding the American military's attacks. Uses captured feature films and documentaries from the Japanese, including a short sequence from the 1937 German/Japanese co-production "The Daughter of the Samurai" in a brief clip with the actress Setsuko Hara. The film concludes with a plea to buy U.S. war bonds.

857. Time for sale (02:57)

Date:
1945
Main contributors:
United States. War Finance Division
Summary:
Incorporates footage originally used for the Japanese-produced newsreel, New Philippines News to show the horrible conditions that American prisoners experienced in enemy camps in the Philippines as a way to raise money through the sale of War Bonds.

858. DNA structure and replication (29:15)

Date:
1959
Main contributors:
University Films, J. D. Watson, Irwin H. Herskowitz
Summary:
Describes RNA and DNA which are favored as the carriers of genetic information. Presents DNA molecules as shown in the electron microscope and describes the polymeric nature of the DNA molecule and DNA nucleotides. Compares the base content of DNA from various organisms. Describes in detail the three-dimensional organization of DNA as revealed through X-ray diffraction experiments. Pictures a Watson-Crick double helix model of DNA which suggests that DNA may replicate by the two complementary chains separating with each single strand then acting as a template to form its complement. Lecture given by Dr. J. D. Watson.

859. Citizenship in Action (24:17)

Date:
1958
Main contributors:
Unknown
Summary:
Presents a high-school class studying god citizenship in the community and in the school. Dramatizes the manner in which the student committees organized projects for improving school elections, choosing proper representatives for student government, welcoming new students, and up-grading lunch room conditions. Emphasizes that good citizenship in the school produces good citizenship in the community.