This important film, “The Will To Live” was written by David Epstein with a score by Herman Fuchs and presented by the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) in 1947. “The Will to Live” comes from the immediate post-war period, and focuses on the JDC’s efforts in a modern-day exodus — the resettling the Jewish community in Europe in the aftermath of WWII and the Holocaust. At that time the refugee challenge facing the JDC was immense, and the film was created as a fundraiser to help ease the crisis. The JDC was originally founded in 1914 in order to provide assistance to the Jewish community residing under Turkish rule; in the lead up to WWII, JDC stepped up operations to try to assist Jews attempting to flee Hitler.

Presented as an appeal for Jewish refugees overseas and in Palestine (:13). The film was created on behalf of the JDC by RKO Pathe (:15). The film is narrated by actor Paul Muni (:32). Montage shows young Jewish refugee children in a care home, as well as images of refugees arriving in the USA on a ship (1:16). Jews arrive in Palestine aboard a ship, while other refugees are shown in a camp in poor conditions (1:45). Doctors administer treatment for the sick (2:04). Scenes from a concentration camp; Jewish refugees listen to a speaker from the JDC (2:35). A lifeless body is shown lying under a building (2:42). People in the crowd react to the JDC speaker (2:44). A medic steps from an ambulance (3:06). Emaciated refugees (3:29). Following the conflict, many returned home to bombed out buildings and rubble (3:43). Donated suppplies arrive (3:51) on a truck of the American Joint Distribution Committee (4:05). Food supplies are carted from the truck (4:11) in crates marked with the Jewish star. Youth are examined by JDC doctors (4:37). Men and women recuperate after being liberated from concentration camps (5:45). The JDC provided services such as professional workshops and skills training. A sign notes the Joinery Course (6:09). Women operate a loom (6:25). They worship freely on the Sabbath (6:36). Men ready to load into a boat (6:50) in an Adriatic village once under fascist rule. Refugees learn agricultural techniques (7:09). A woman feeds chickens and two men stack bales of hay (7:14). The refugees rebuild their strength and mobility. New refugees arrive at the kibbutz (7:35). Refugees step from a ship (8:05) and are relocated through the program’s assistance. Ambulances await their arrivals (8:23). Teepee type army tents are set up (8:30) for temporary housing. Clothing supplies are handed out (8:34). Refugees enjoy food donations (8:37). They arrive in Palestine (8:45) navigating barbed wire fences. Famers work on land provided by the Jewish National Fund (9:34). Chaim Weizmann (9:45); biochemist and statesman (9:45). He would later become the first president of Israel. The outside of Madatech; now the Israel National Museum of Science, Technology and Space (10:03). Modern city streets of Palestine (10:13) as images of reconstruction follow (10:32). A farm cooperative (11:07). Assignment boards (11:12) designate work shares. Farmers plant new seedlings (11:30). Shots of gleeful newly arrived refugees (12:06). Immigrants are greeted at the docks by the United Service for New Americans (12:15). Henry Morgenthau Jr. (12:43) chairmen of the United Jewish Appeal. Social workers meet with an immigrating family (13:52). A train delivers refugees to new homes in the USA (14:35). A former refugee family enjoys breakfast in their new home in America (14:45) complete with Kellogg’s Corn Flakes (14:49). Students in class (14:53). The Statue of Liberty (15:02). The Jewish Social Service Association and Jewish Welfare Society of Brooklyn meet in 1946 (15:21). Mrs. David M. Levy speaks at the podium (15:23). A montage of the homeless refugees moving with suitcases, showing the depth and breadth of the challenge facing the JDC (17:10). A refugee camp in Czechoslovakia is shown, as well as camps set up by the US Army in its (18:00) occupation zones. Statistics concerning the displaced (18:22). The 1941 chairmen of the JDC, Edward Warburg (19:09) makes a final plea.

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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