Smithsonian Doc "The Pacific War in Color" (Full Version)

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Korvar -> Smithsonian Doc "The Pacific War in Color" (5/24/2019 4:46:01 PM)

The other recent documentary recommendation threads reminded me I just recently ran across this excellent one produced last year by the Smithsonian Channel:


The Pacific War in Color
[image]https://i.imgur.com/nti6r8X.png[/image]


There are small inaccuracies such as showing images of Helldivers early in the war - although you can't be too picky with color footage from the era.

It provides a general narrative and overview rather than a deep dive on any particular battle. It's very well done for what it is and provides a lot of footage I hadn't seen before, including color footage of various Pacific islands and Japan before the war. Apparently they got hold of color footage from the private collection of a couple who took one of the first Pan Am clippers across the Pacific. It's available from various sources including Amazon at a very reasonable $8 USD for the whole season (8 50min episodes) - or if you have the Smithsonian Channel via your cable provider.




Korvar -> RE: Smithsonian Doc "The Pacific War in Color" (5/24/2019 5:01:19 PM)

A sample of the pre-war footage/narrative:

Pre-War Army Life in Color

As well as the series trailer:

The Pacific War in Color Trailer




Yaab -> RE: Smithsonian Doc "The Pacific War in Color" (5/24/2019 8:52:39 PM)

Watched the trailer. Will the series cover the CBI theatre of operations?




Korvar -> RE: Smithsonian Doc "The Pacific War in Color" (5/24/2019 9:07:14 PM)

Yes, CBI is covered, but if you're expecting a deep dive on any particular battle/sub-theater you'll be left wanting. It does at least mention the early days such as the Malay campaign, the closing of the Burma road, flying the "hump", and the Allied guerilla operations. Think of it as a sampler platter with many great visuals - it would probably be perfect for introducing someone to the Pacific Theater for the first time to give them an idea of the topic(s) they'd enjoy exploring further.




BBfanboy -> RE: Smithsonian Doc "The Pacific War in Color" (5/24/2019 9:32:11 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Korvar

Yes, CBI is covered, but if you're expecting a deep dive on any particular battle/sub-theater you'll be left wanting. It does at least mention the early days such as the Malay campaign, the closing of the Burma road, flying the "hump", and the Allied guerilla operations. Think of it as a sampler platter with many great visuals - it would probably be perfect for introducing someone to the Pacific Theater for the first time to give them an idea of the topic(s) they'd enjoy exploring further.

Color film was not widely available and probably pretty expensive in the 1940s, so little color footage of the war exists. This series and a similar one for the ETO seems to be an attempt to gather together as much footage as they could and hang it on a quick narrative of the war. The guiding story arc is to cover the same path that the pre-war China Clipper passengers followed and filmed in color.
I was quite disappointed that significant battles like Leyte Gulf (the largest naval battle in history with significant air, land and surface naval action) was covered in about two sentences showing pictures of aircraft dueling. None of the real drama of the situation.
Because of the shortcomings I view it more as gilding enhancing the more extensive battle narratives done in B&W film.




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