Documentary short film depicting the harrowing battle between the U.S. Marines and the Japanese for control of the Pacific island of Tarawa. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with National Archives and Records Administration in 2005.
With just about every Governmental agency behind it, this is clearly designed for US domestic consumption to bolster morale ahead of the looming D-Day - and it doesn't pull it's punches. On the other side of the world, a squad of marines is gathered on the deck of a destroyer attending a church service. They are aware that next day, they are to embark on a perilous mission to dispossess the Japanese of an airfield on the strategically important island of Tarawa. A successive series of naval and aerial bombardments over three days will hopefully soften up their opponents before the ground assault, but even then their tenacious enemy is never going to be a pushover and will test the mettle of these courageous soldiers with some fierce counter-attacking. The photography and, especially, the audio - really does convey the real dangers as bombs, grenades, and bullets are indiscriminately exchanged with seemingly little the invaders can do to unseat the well armed and dug-in defenders. With sand and smoke everywhere, well they just have to persevere, pray and hope. This is a testament to many things, but the wartime cameramen who managed to capture the horror of this unfolding battle whilst under fire certainly deserve recognition.
