Filmed in the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by U.S. Army Air Force’s Strategic Bombing Survey team, this heart-wrenching film shows the devastated city and populace. Most of it was filmed in late March of 1946 — about six months after the bomb was dropped. The production team was led by Lt. Col. Daniel A. McGovern with cameraman Harry Mimura (a Japanese cinematographer who worked in Hollywood). The film begins with footage of HIroshima’s ruined Catholic church, where eight Jesuit priests survived the bombing. At 1:41 temporary buildings are seen, where bomb survivors are now living. At 2:21 a cemetery is shown. At 2:26 a production slate is seen. At 3:33 what appear to be ashes of the dead are piled in boxes, awaiting internment. At 3;34 another slate is shown. A brief ceremony is shown with what appears to be human remains handed over to a family member. At 4:33 a woman looks for salvageable material in the debris. At 5:50 children are also shown looking for anything of value. They stumble across some broken cups and plates. At 6:48 a woman brings fresh flowers to offer at the feet of the Buddha. At 7:15 a large building is shown. At 7:44 a man moves a large cart on a navigable path through the debris. At 8:31 a man clears the soil near the foundation of a house, possible so as to plant a garden. At 8:37 a line worker fixes either telephone or power lines. At 8:52 survivors use water from the river to wash. At 9:07 a staff of journalists are shown at work. Documents and photographs are examined and a newspaper or magazine layout planned. Typeset is taken from a lithographic layout box. At 13:27 the assembled type is shown. At 13:38 a copy of Newsweek and the Economist are shown on a desk. At 14:01 a printing press goes into operation. At 14:40 newspapers emerge from the printing press. At 15:38 more shots of Hiroshima — a trolley car or streetcar rumbles past. At 15:45 seaweed is dried for food. At 16:30 children break up concrete tiles with hammers, and what appear to be demobilized soldiers clear debris.
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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
