Newsreels of World War II, Volume 1 (1939-1943)

Founded in 1939 by Leslie Winik, Official Films was a major player in the 8mm/16mm home movie business for decades. One of their most popular products was the one-reel, ten-minute "News Thrills" series, which compiled the most important events of the year from various sources. As the United States entered World War II and audiences grew hungry for wartime battle footage, Official expanded the series to multiple volumes per year. This compilation covers a selection of their releases from 1939 to 1943, including such important events as the Nazi invasion of Norway and Denmark; the resignation of Neville Chamberlain and the succession of Winston Churchill as British Prime Minister; General Douglas MacArthur's escape from the Philippines; the Battle of Midway; the British stand against Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps in Egypt; the U.S. Marines landing on Guadalcanal; Churchill and FDR's historic meeting at the Casablanca Conference; and the Russians repelling the Nazis from Stalingrad. As the war became more desperate, Official began ending the films with an exhortation to "Buy War Bonds", accompanied by a graphic illustration of Hitler, Tojo, and Mussolini hanging from the gallows!