Trivia / The Battle of San Pietro

• Backed by the Pentagon: Huston and his crew of fourteen (two of whom were killed in battle) were assigned by the Pentagon to shoot the film alongside the men of the 143rd Infantry Regiment.
• Executive Meddling:
  • Both the Pentagon and Huston's superior, Frank Capra, pressured him to change elements of the film. The film was ultimately cut from five reels to two as a result.
  • Some argue that the overall US Army commander for the area, General Mark Clark, insisted on recording the prologue as he believed that the film presented his command decisions in a negative light.
  • On the other hand, Army Chief of Staff George Marshall argued that the film was a valuable tool for training soldiers and preparing them for combat. It was shown to soldiers in infantry training at least into the Vietnam War.

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