George Stevens (December 18, 1904 – March 8, 1975) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer. During World War II, Stevens joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps and headed a film unit from 1943 to 1946 under General Eisenhower. His unit shot footage documenting D-Day — including the only Allied European Front color film of the war — the liberation of Paris and the meeting of American and Soviet forces at the Elbe River, as well as horrific scenes from the Duben labor camp and the Dachau concentration camp. Stevens also helped prepare the Duben and Dachau footage and other material for presentation during the Nuremberg Trials. In 2008, his footage was entered into the U.S. National Film Registry by the Librarian of Congress as an"essential visual recor" of World War II. The Special Coverage Unit (SPECOU) was placed under the control of the Supreme Headquarters' Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF). The SPECOU consists of 45 people: writers like Ivan Moffat, William Saroyan and Irwin Shaw; cameramen like Dick Hoar, Ken Marthey, William Mellor, Jack Muth; sound operators as Bill Hamilton, who comes from Columbia, assistant directors, as Holly Morse, who has worked with Hal Roach.
Duplicate scene appearing here at 06:18 in RG-60.1463 at 04:22. Matches 111 ADC 2221 from the National Archives.
(INV1485) Wide shot of street filled with ruins on the ground or some kind of small blockade constructed from ruins. 00:07 American Army cars driving down the street. Civilians approach the car to shake hands with soldiers. 00:23 MS of civilians approaching soldiers. Crowds looking and waving at the camera. 00:29 Larger crowds. 00:35 Two boys approach and kiss soldier 00:52 CU of soldier speaking next to a young boy. 00:57 Crowds advancing quickly down the street 01:05 (INV1484) Armed soldiers (French resistance) walk around Shell gas station. 01:21 Tank with Free French Forces symbol. 01:26 American Army vehicles driving down the street. 01:49 Crowds cheering around Army car. Waving US, Free French Forces, and USSR hammer and sickle flags. 02:00 Store window labeled"Honneur aux Allie" with Free French Forces symbol surrounded by American, British, French, and Russian flags. 02:08 French resistance car driving down street. Motorcycle to its left. 02:12 Slate reading"...SPX-F 8/24/44.." 02:14 Military car driving behind a Red Cross car. 02:28 Various shots of an American Red Cross car crossing pontoon bridge over Seine. 02:58 Two men swimming in the Seine? A third man is naked and standing outside, washing himself. View of cars driving on bridge in the BG. 03:29 Man standing in front of store looking around. He notices the camera and kneels down outside of the shot. 03:37 American tank driving. 03:47 French Resistance (FFI fight snipers) (some in uniform, some in civilian clothes) running away from the Shell gas station. 03:56 The men squat behind a fence, looking and pointing beyond it. 04:10 An older man points beyond the fence to a soldier aiming a gun. A soldier in the back loads his gun. 04:16 The soldier shoots his gun. 04:29 French Resistance cars driving down the street; soldiers firing their guns in the air. 04:36 Cars driving down the street with cheering crowds. 04:47 Slate with illegible text. 04:50 Various shots of soldiers hiding behind cars and trees. 05:02 Three men, probably French Resistance, in street, holding out their ammunition. 05:03 American soldiers and young women gather up in front of an Army vehicle near a Dupont shop for a photograph. American flag hangs from the store. 05:20 Car driving down the street between cheering crowds. 05:36 Man on the right kneels down and uses a camera. Army vehicles parking. 06:30 Bulldozer flattens the ground. Sign on the floor. 06:55 Two soldiers (one is French resistance) hammer into pontoon bridge a stencil sign reading"Passerelle Pour Civi" (Passage for Civilians). An American tractor drives away. Sequence of shots repeats one more time.
Liberation of Paris, France