The Big Picture is an American documentary television program which aired from 1951 to 1964. It was produced by the United States Army Signal Corps (USASC) pictorial service. In the 1950’s, the series was shot on 35mm black-and-white film. In the 1960’s they switched to color film. The film The Big Picture Battle of North Africa R1 is part of that television series. This black and white film was aired in 1960 as TV-484. It explains military campaigns in North Africa during WWII. This first part of a two part series covers the destruction of the French fleet in Oran in June, 1940, and concludes with Field Marshal Montgomery’s bitter battle for El Alamein. Hosted by Army Master Sergeant Stuart Queen, a WWII veteran and Korean War combat broadcaster.
Oran, a major coastal city north-west of Algeria, July 1940 (0:22-0:23). The film opens with authentic war pictures of British ships battling French ones (0:24-1:17). Ship loads of war equipment being unloaded, tanks, jeeps, and howitzer guns (1:47-2:35). Jeeps pulling anti-tank guns (2:35-2:52). Army troops on the march (2:53-3:10). Air power (3:11-3:13). Italian tanks (3:14-3:23). Anti-tank guns (3:24-3:25). Tank Battle scenes (3:26-3:52). Ground troops (3:53-4:09). Italian troops in Trenches (4:24-4:31). Barbed wire fence (4:32-4:33). Officer on Italian communication, portable radio, device (4:40-4:43). Anti-tank guns being pulled by trucks and carrying the troops (4:44-4:48). Italian Jeep and Trucks with anti-tank guns (4:49-4:59). British Cromwell tanks (5:06-5:22). Anti-tank guns being loaded and fired (5:28-5:53). Benghazi, Libya (6:03-6:05). Italian captives (6:26-6:34). Captured Italian anti-tank guns, tanks, machine guns, ships and airplanes (6:47-7:07). Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, who was the Italian Viceroy of Italian East Africa (7:20-7:23). Arrival of General Erwin Rommel into Africa, February 12, 1941 (7:38-7:53). Rommel’s war equipment (7:57-9:25). Rommel attacks the British and the British withdraw (9:33-10:05). April 1 the Germans take over Benghazi. Views of them moving into the city (10:22-10:55). The Rats of Tobruk, an Australian Division, heckled Rommel’s troops. Views of Rommel’s attempts to dislodge them (11:27-12:45). Rommel moves supplies across the dessert (13:04-13:24) and finally defeats the Rats of Tobruk, using combat fighting, and finally takes the city (13:25-15:15). Rommel looking at the graves of the dead (15:15-15:29). The Axis forces (Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis) and Rommel headed to El Alamein (15:35-16:02). Field Marshal Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck British Army commander during WWII (16:04-16:17). An order signed by Winston Churchill (16:18-16:37). Supplies sent by Roosevelt (16:47-17:13). American tanks (16:57-17:00). Battle of El Alamein, Egypt. (17:40- Aircraft ready for takeoff (17:41-17:48). Bombers in flight and hitting targets (17:52-18:51). British Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, “the Spartan General” (18:52-19:02). Montgomery’s battle preparation (19:12-20:26). Relaxing at the beach, getting a haircut, swatting flies (20:40-20:56). British Tanks move forward (21:13-21:54). Nighttime battle scenes (21:58-22:26). Actual battle scenes of the Battle of El Alamein (22:27-26:05). Bombers in the sky were relentless (26:13-26:55). German prisoners (27:06-27:17). Army Master Sergeant Stuart Queen speaks (27:35-28:05).
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
