FLASHES OF ACTION

Year Published: 1928

Creator: Official Films

Format: 16mm

Description: Trigger warning: this war film contains scenes of violence and death. Created from official films of the U.S. Army Expeditionary Forces in World War I and released by Eastman Kodak, "Flashes of Action" is a silent newsreel created in 1928 -- for the ten year anniversary of the end of hostilities. The film features footage of trench warfare, balloon busting by aircraft (including a spotter jumping from the balloon moments before it bursts into flames), gas warfare, nighttime bombardments, and more. The film opens, showcasing U.S. Army infantry marching and pulling military carriages (0:20-0:23). Following an introduction card, the film presents a U.S. crackshot soldier (sniper) in action (0:24-0:30) and then moves to depict camouflage snipers (0:41). Scenes capture the recaptured town of Rambucourt in France (1:05-1:33), featuring a WWI era artillery cannon firing after the text card "always ready" (1:43). The film proceeds to portray the use of gas weaponry, soldiers donning gas masks (2:46), an attacked observation balloon (3:08), and the shelling of enemy headquarters (3:32). Devastating, real-life scenes of violence and death are shown (3:50-4:01). This is followed by footage of the use of liquid fire / flamethrower (4:15), a French field gun in action (4:24), and an Italian machine gunner in action (4:47). British raiders bringing in prisoners are shown (5:05), followed by scenes of cavalry soldiers galloping through water with the text "British rushing up artillery" (5:27). Soldiers are struck by an artillery blast (6:08). The film displays artillery in action (6:28-6:46) and mine explosions (6:51) before concluding with scenes featuring the Allied commanders (7:10) and ending with a soldier grimly staring at the camera (7:18).