Summary: French newsreel of their own troops in Venice and on the Italian Front, January 1918.
Description: I. Two French soldiers in silhouette are rowed by gondola to St Mark's Square in Venice, with the Doges' Palace nearby and other gondolas riding at rest. The film emphasises that war has removed the gaiety from the city. A boatload of soldiers on the Grand Canal, followed by various other views of the city, ending at Saint Mark's Square. Nearby at an airfield four pilots are posed beside their Nieuport 12s. They then take off individually to defend the city. In Venice at the Rialto and in other areas there is some gaiety. A view of Bassano with the River Brenta flowing nearby and Mount Grappa in the background. II. A collection of Austrian mountain guns captured in the assault on Mount Tomba, including their giant 'stovepipe' mortars, held by the men of 70th Battalion, Chasseurs Alpins, who took the position. As the officers talk General Fayolle arrives with General Maistre and the British "General Herring" (no such person - probably Major-General C H Harrington, Chief of Staff of the British forces in Italy). A captain in 120th Battalion, Chasseurs Alpins is given the Croix de Guerre by Fayolle and the regimental fanion of 70th Battalion is also decorated, followed by the marchpast and review. A posed group of an Italian soldier, a French soldier of 115th Battalion, Chasseurs Alpins and a British soldier together.
Production Details: Section Cinématographique de l'Armée Française (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Fayolle, Emile (person)
Maistre, Paul (person)
Harrington, C H (person)
French Army, Air Corps (regiment/service)
French Army, Chasseurs Alpins, Bn 70 (regiment/service)
French Army, Chasseurs Alpins, Bn 115 (regiment/service)
French Army, Chasseurs Alpins, Bn 120 (regiment/service)
Royal Italian Army (regiment/service)
Keywords: recreation, French military - tourism (object name)
buildings, Italian - historic (object name)
aircraft, French - combat: Nieuport 12 (object name)
operations, French air - sortie (object name)
spoils, French (object name)
ceremonies, French - event-related: investiture (object name)
society, French military - friendship (object name)
society, Italian military - friendship (object name)
society, British military - friendship (object name)
01/3(45).8 (event)
31/3(45) (event)
Italy & Venice, Veneto (geography)
Italy & Bassano, Veneto (geography)
Italy & Brenta (River) (geography)
Italy & Mount Grappa (geography)
half-light (concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: None
Subtitle language: French
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 573 ft; Running time: 10 mins
