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Summary: French newsreel of activities on the Western Front, including the arrival of the first American contingents and the visit of General Pétain to a rest camp for the troops, June 1917.
Description: I. A camp for Chasseurs Alpins in hill country, possibly the Vosges area. The camp has permanent dugouts in a hillside, while 75mm guns and limbers are being camouflaged with trees and matting. The first US forces, from US 1st Division ('Big Red One') arrive at the camp for training, first a small contingent marches in, then the remainder arrive in trucks. All wear American uniforms but French shrapnel helmets. They are instructed in the French gas hood respirator. The French and American flags are raised at the camp, near the sign "camp Franco-Américain". A symbolic handshake between a French poilu and an American doughboy. II. An American cargo ship docking at a French port, possibly Marseilles. Its cargo of grain and flour is unloaded onto the quayside and tipped into storage vats. III. General Pétain visits an Army rest camp. He walks around among the troops, talks to them and samples a cup of wine. The film ends with a close-up of Pétain.
Production Details: Section Cinématographique de l'Armée Française (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Pétain, Philippe (person)
French Army (regiment/service)
French Army, [Chasseurs Alpins] (regiment/service)
United States Army & American Expeditionary Force (regiment/service)
United States Army & Div 1 (regiment/service)
Keywords: weapons, French - gun: 75mm field gun (object name)
society, United States military - friendship (object name)
society, French military - friendship (object name)
training, French military - specialist: anti-gas (object name)
training, United States military - specialist: anti-gas (object name)
equipment, French - personal: gasmask (gas hood) (object name)
supplies, United States, movement [RA] - food (object name)
delegations, French national - military (object name)
01/3(4-15).7 (event)
31/3(44) (event)
Alsace, France (geography)
Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France (geography)
propaganda, French (concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: French
Subtitle language: French
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 469 ft; Running time: 8 mins
HD Media:Yes
Notes: Production etc: see Notes to IWM 508-10
Remarks: the visit of Pétain to talk with his soldiers provides (both in the activity and in the film meant to publicise the fact) considerable insight into the manner in which he restored French morale in the summer of 1917. With no attempts at matiness or exhortation, no handing out of cigarettes or patronising, his stately presence can be seen to act as a reassurance to the troops in the camp. A most interesting and impressive performance, all the more so for the fact that it is so understated. It has also been carefully stage-managed. According to Jeanne et Ford, Pétain pulled a face at the sour taste of the wine, and insisted on this being cut from the film before release
