The Big Picture is an official television report from the United States Army (:42). It was a documentary program that aired from 1951 to 1964. Sergeant Stewart Queen opens the episode speaking of the foot soldiers and their vital place in the military (:49). In mountain warfare training; a finishing school for infantry men, they learn to scale up and down mountains (1:31). In Austria, the men gather around their instructor, learning to master footholds on the mountains (1:56). The ‘buddy’s dirty boot hold’ in which one soldier hoists another using his hands is shown (3:17). As the training becomes trickier, they are taught rope climbing and how to tie proper knots (4:19). A stretcher is utilized to get men down from the mountain and whether it be in Indian fashion or aerial tramming (5:54) they must be tied securely. Rope bridges are handy and soldiers learn to build and then climb across (6:11).
Sergeant Queen returns and directs viewers to an airfield in Korea, to look at army pilots (7:16). The 8th Army Flight Detachment’s (7:48) operation’s officer has received information that the Troop Commander had run into trouble (7:57). Assigned to the task is the Army pilot, observer and a small plane (8:13). We see the two men exiting the ready room and heading for the Observation Center to be briefed (8:38). Army issued flak vests are slipped on for protection (9:02). In the plane nicknamed the ‘Bird Dog’ (9:38) they take off, remaining high until over enemy lines (10:31). ‘Approaching Battle zone’ is announced and they head lower for a closer investigation (10:40). After confirming the enemy position, all information is recorded into the record, such as troop movements and how many guns spotted (11:59).
In Camp Gordon Georgia, an arena called the ‘struggle pit’ exists (13:43). This gives Signal Corps Bases an opportunity to practice man to man combat. The only way to remove an opponent from the pit is by physically lifting him and tossing him out, as the instructor explains (15:03).
Sergeant Queen informs viewers the last destination is to Germany (17:24) as on site cameras record Military Police in duty. MP’s pictured on patrol (17:55) worked closely with the town authorities and they are shown shaking hands (18:04). A sign in West Berlin reading “You are leaving the American sector” is seen at the border stations where much tension existed (18:31). The MP’s are also shown policing the Autobahn (18:41). Cars are stopped and searched by a German Custom’s Official yet under the supervision of the MP’s Custom Unit (18:51). Another responsibility of the MP’s is standing guard at the Berlin Express, shown here at the Frankfurt Station (20:41). While US mail and personnel rode the trains, the Military Police inspected and rode along for safeguard (22:00). This film has been produced by the Signal Corp Pictorial Center and presented by the US Army (23:09).
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