Human Connections Amid War’s Brutality

Read Time:4 Minute, 15 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The Story of G.I. Joe
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Genre: Biography, Drama, War
Year Released: 1945, 2024 Ignite Films Blu-ray/DVD
Runtime: 1h 48m
Director(s): William A. Wellman
Writer(s): Leopold Atlas, Guy Endore, Philip Stevenson, Ben Bengal, Alan Le May, Ernie Pyle
Cast: Burgess Meredith, Robert Mitchum, Freddie Steele, Wally Cassell, Jimmy Lloyd, John R. Reilly, William Murphy
Where To Watch: available here: www.ignite-films.com or for pre-order here: www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Ignite Films brings a remarkable restoration of the 1945 classic, set in the thick of a campaign during World War II. Working under the guidance of director William A. Wellman and inspired by war correspondent Ernie Pyle’s lived accounts, the film avoids the glorified telling typical of the era. Instead, it takes us headlong into the trenches, seeking to offer an authentic and genuine glimpse into the soldiers' struggles and untold acts of bravery on the ground.

Burgess Meredith’s portrayal of Ernie Pyle’s moral fortitude parallels how we understand the stark reality facing these soldiers. This reality is contrasted with Robert Mitchum as Lieutenant Walker, whose depth brings perspective to the complexity of holding command under dire circumstances. It operates barely beneath the surface of the armed forces: a seldom-discussed, profound sibling-like connection is integral to the development of the soldier. The narrative is furthered by a mix of inspiration portrayed from Pyle’s words from his books, ‘Here Is Your War’ and ‘Brave Men,’ although it dispenses with the typical linear tale.

The film takes us from camaraderie-filled moments to the brutality of artillery blasts in a realistic view of war's unpredictability. Russell Metty utilizes contrasts of light and shadow for a gritty and grounded view of cinematography for a wartime film, intensifying the narrative’s emotional underlines and the visual spectacle it provides. Wellman wanted to tell a coming-of-age tale regarding daily life, supplying a grounded and patriotic view.

The film was initially released in a world still struggling to make sense of the end of WWI; it resonated with the audiences of the day, offering the kind of retrospective, genuine spirit that numerous later films consequently strive to obtain. Ignite Films has preserved the film and made it available for future generations, highlighting its intense cultural and artistic impact. These acts have not been in vain since their inclusion in the National Film Registry ensures this film will live on. Moreover, Ernie Pyle’s involvement at the time granted the film a unique vision. Pyle was deeply interested in the project and its creation.

This film transcends the typical war film of the day by offering a view that a director without first-hand experience couldn’t replicate without the help of those there. This helped to emphasize the narratives that go with it to explore deeper themes: survival, camaraderie, and quiet courage. It revitalized a narrative reiterating the essence of human endurance, the nature of those who have it, and that which prevents them from surrender, igniting fully again with the release this year. While this isn’t the perfect war film, it is a film that aimed to tell the story in a way that we don’t see traditionally, and coming so soon after the war itself, this was beyond groundbreaking.

Blu-ray comes with a slipcover.

Bonus Features come on the Blu-ray and the DVD:
Blu-ray slipcover
"Here he lies where he longed to be…" Wild Bill's Dog Face Blues – A new video essay by author and filmmaker Scout Tafoya
New interview with Bill Wellman Jr.
"The Story of ‘The Story of G.I. Joe,” a new featurette on the restoration by film restoration supervisor Greg Kimble
Audio commentary by Alan K. Rode
Original nitrate trailer
Reconstruction of the original 1945 trailer
Photo gallery with original press book pages and stills

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[photo courtesy of IGNITE FILMS]

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