Murray Goldblatt was U.S. soldier who served during World War II in Belgium, France, Czechoslovakia and Germany from 1943 to 1945, most likely with the 15th Finance Corps. Born in Brooklyn to a Jewish family, Murray worked in the family's hardware store before enlisting with the Army on January 23, 1943. After his release on December 27, 1945, Murray returned to New York and later settled in Princeton, NJ with longtime partner Jim Kane. He was an accountant by profession and active in GPP (Gay People of Princeton). Murray rarely spoke of his experiences during World War II even though he documented his travels on five reels of film with his personal movie camera.
This film was preserved with a 2018 National Film Preservation Foundation (NFPF) grant.
Refer to Murray Goldblatt's shotlist describing the scenes and places in his five reels of 16mm film (100ft).
Entering Pilsen, Czechoslovakia on May 8th, 1945 -- V-E Day. Street scenes of civilians in traditional Czech clothing. The opera house. View of the soldiers’ barracks. Sign for the “15th Finance.” Scenes of life in Pilsen and the countryside: people sunbathing, boating, swimming. An enormous crowd gathers to listen to Grace Moore sing. Soldiers play tennis with local civilians. Scenes from a parade. Pilsen castle. Soldiers smoke cigarettes and drink beer, including Murray. Ingrid Bergman and Jack Benny. Soldiers work in an office. Soldiers board a military airplane. Scenes of mountains and the land below from mid-flight.
Pilsen on V-E Day; Grace Moore, Ingrid Bergman, Jack Benny entertain; Soldiers at work in office