This black & white film, one of the episode of the U.S. Army’s “The Big Picture” TV show, is about the battle for Manila, Philippines in 1945 during WW2. Copyright 1959. The Battle of Manila (3 February – 3 March 1945) was the scene of the worst urban fighting in the Pacific theater. Japanese forces committed mass murder against Filipino civilians during the battle. Along with massive loss of life, the battle also destroyed architectural and cultural heritage dating back to the city’s founding, and Manila became one of the most devastated capital cities during the entire war, alongside Berlin and Warsaw. The battle ended the almost three years of Japanese military occupation in the Philippines (1942–1945). The city’s capture was marked as General Douglas MacArthur’s key to victory in the campaign of reconquest.

Opening: The U.S. Army Presents THE BIG PICTURE (:06-:34). This particular episode starts with a human interest story — a policeman and a civilian was going to give a parking ticket to, discover they are connected by the battle for Manila during WWII. The police officer was a civilian prisoner of the Japanese at Santo Tomas Internment Camp, who was liberated by the other man’s unit in 1944. The two sit and have coffee (2:08-5:10). The two men continue to talk. American troops land at Leyte in the Philippines and advance. They land on the beach, push inland. Air support drops bombs on key targets, explosions seen from the air. Bombs are dropped everywhere. Troops and tanks slowly move down the quiet streets (5:11-7:03). A GI finds a piece of paper that has useful intelligence. American troops in the city. The enemy is hiding under the stands of a baseball stadium, troops move in with guns and tanks. A battle inside the baseball stadium. Troops liberate POWs who were mainly civilian along with some Army nurses who helped care for the POWs during their time in captivity (7:04-9:09). Liberation. Meanwhile, a battle rages on while some others are removed who are injured. Back to the two men talking with coffee (9:10-11:07). The two men continue to talk at the table. Deeper into Manila, battle continues. Japanese use big buildings as defensive positions. American troops move through twisted, destroyed buildings. Cannons are fired. Explosions in the city (11:08-12:56). Troops on the streets. Filipino civilians brave enemy fire to hand out cigars and candy to American troops as gratitude. Urban warfare on the streets of Manilla. Fires in the distance. Women and children run for cover. Fire start to rage all around the troops (12:57-14:21). Buildings on fire. Fires at night. Fighting continues into city of Intramuros. Troops fire rifles from buildings. Heavy machine gun fire. General MacArthur surveys the scene (14:22-15:52). Guns, bombs, and cannons at the ready. War rages on, cannons fired. Troops landing at the beach. In 1942, General Wainwright sat at the surrender table. Japanese troops remove American flag and raise the Japanese flag. Japanese troops cheer. Corregidor Island, where Japan had American POWs (15:53-17:21). February 1945, Americans get word that American POWs are held in a city prison called Bilibid. Twelve hundred internees and POWs were freed by the U.S. Army on February 4, 1945. Frail and malnourished, the Americans are freed (17:22-18:32). Officers plan. Army Air Force and Navy planes drop bombs on Corregidor. Paratroopers jump onto the island of Corregidor. Supplies are dropped as well. Paratroopers land on the island. Another air drop of supplies follows. Troops in Manila continue the advance (18:33-20:58). Firing starts up and goes on and on in a huge barrage against the enemy. Tanks shoot, troops fire rifles. Amphibious boats go across a river. Americans are moving in (20:59-22:52). The wall of Intramuros is ahead. Troops on the ground move. Explosions go off. Civilians near the city tell of where the enemy is hiding. American troops use flamethrowers (22:53-24:33). American troops break through and are inside the city of Intramuros. Injured children. American troops carry injured children. Injured civilians leave the city. General MacArthur returns to Corregidor and raises the American flag (24:34-26:36). Back to the two men who continue to talk and then back to the Sergeant who remembers the two meeting and hearing them discuss. The police officer destroys the ticket (26:37-28:17). End credits (28:18-28:44)

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 and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com