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Summary: The problems of reconstruction in Naples, the first great city to be liberated, now in Allied control.
Description: Scenes of Naples, "one of the most beautiful of Italian cities", lying in ruins after Allied bombing and destruction caused by retreating Nazis. October 1, 1943: Allied armies enter city. "The Allied armies had freed their first big city in Europe; one million people came under their care." Food and water shortages: typhoid and typhus threatened. Allied soldiers bring food and help in distilling salt water pumped up from bay. Ships unloaded using DUKWs. Problem of Nazi booby traps: scene of devastation after post office exploded, October 7. Evacuation of city for safety reasons while power is restored. Radio broadcasts recommence; people return to city. Reconstruction: bulldozers, rail workers etc. Scenes of city life: markets, shops, presses rolling. Black GIs talk with local woman. "A decade of fascism is at an end." Domestic life: washing, children playing etc. Naples is a city once more but further battles are to be won, against starvation, disease etc. "We of the United Nations and the peoples that we liberate must fight these battles together..."
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Army Film Unit (Production company)
Royal Air Force Film Production Unit (Production company)
Clayton, Jack (Production individual)
Boulting, Roy1913-11-212001-11-05British film producer-director (Production individual)
Baylis, Peter (Production individual)
Verrall, Robert Thomas1916Service Number: 263821. British film editor served with Army Film And Photographic Unit in GB 1939-1946 (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force (regiment/service)
Royal Navy (regiment/service)
United States Navy (regiment/service)
Keywords: administration, Allied - occupation: Naples (object name)
transport, United States military - amphibious: DUKW (object name)
engineering, civil, Italian (object name)
destruction, Italian military - area: bomb (object name)
society, United States military - friendship (object name)
society, Italian - domestic (object name)
society, Italian - sustenance (object name)
reconstruction, Italian (object name)
Italy & Naples, Campania (geography)
Deprivation (concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1216 ft; Running time: 15 mins
HD Media:Yes
Notes: Credits: taken by cataloguer from COI, and not present on film itself.
Documentation/associated material: COI file - shotsheet etc
