In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, several of Hollywood’s top moviemakers left the safe soundstages of Los Angeles to film the war abroad. This lecture is filled with images and clips that put us next to directors William Wyler (Ben-Hur), George Stevens (Shane), John Huston (The Maltese Falcon), and John Ford (The Searchers) as they took to the air and crouched on battlegrounds to capture images that would be among the most unforgettable of World War II. We’ll join John Ford on Midway Island as he photographs the aerial attack by Japanese planes. We’ll travel with Wyler on the Memphis Belle as the plane goes on bombing missions. And we’ll learn how these experiences changed the filmmakers’ lives, enriching the perspective of their post-war movies. PRESENTER: STEVEN SMITH
Living history museum preserving, exhibiting, and flying aircraft from aviation’s past to present.
