Report from the Aleutians (1943) is a 46 minute documentary directed
by John Huston, an iconic (and frequently iconoclastic) director of
some 40 feature films, many regarded as classics, over a 45 year
career. During World War II he served in the Army Signal Corps with the rank
of Captain, making three documentary films. The other two, Battle of
San Pietro and Let There Be Light, were highly controversial and even
suppressed for many years. Nevertheless he received the Legion of
Merit for “courageous work under battle conditions”.
Unlike many of the military films of the time, there is relatively little
combat until the end, where there is an exciting raid over Japanese
installations at Kiska. Huston always saw himself as “a man’s man”
who loved to fight, drink, and live the adventurous life. He emphasizes
the daily lives of the soldiers, the daily chores and routines as well as
the terrifying combat scene during which Huston was in considerable
peril for his life. Huston narrates the picture himself, with his father,
actor Walter Huston, contributing voice overs.