The Battle of San Pietro, Part 3 (for Super Film Geeks Only)

Here's a comparison between the earlier 38 minute version of SAN PIETRO, and the "standard" 32 minute version:

Long Version, 38 minutes

Corresponds closely to script of November 3, 1944

LS = Long Shot

MS = Medium Shot

CU = Close Up

LR = Left to right

RL = Right to left

Text Official Historical Film / H.R. 2 / War Department The War Department Presents SAN PIETRO Produced by the Army Pictorial Service / Music: The Army Air Force Orchestra / The Mormon Tabernacle Choir / St. Brendan’s Boys Choir Lira Valley lies in the Italian midland, some sixty miles northwest of Naples, to some forty miles southeast of Rome – a wide flat corridor, enclosed between four walls of mountains.   In winter, the highest peaks of the Liri range ascend into the snows, but the valley floor, with its olive groves and ancient vines, its crops of wheat and corn, is green the year around. That is, in normal times. Last year was a bad year for grapes and olives and the fall planting was late. Many fields lay fallow There are two ways from the south into the valley: one a narrow pass the other a high scenic road over the mountains They converge before the site of the ancient village of San Pietro which for seven hundred years has stood at the threshold of Liri Valley, welcoming the traveler. The stones of its walls were quarried out of the parent hill from whose slopes it rises. Population, fourteen hundred and twelve at the last census. A farming community. Patron saint: Peter Point of interest:  Saint Peter’s, 1438 Note interesting treatment of chancel As Saint Peter’s was erected by those who were to worship there, so each original dwelling was built by the ones who were to live there. And this practice had endured down through the centuries. The Italian peasant is a born mason. He cuts and lays and mortars in the stone with great skill and patience, building not for himself alone, but for future generations. From the end of October, 1943, until the middle of December, San Pietro and the surrounding ground was the scene of some of the bitterest fighting on our Fifth Army Front. The Italian Campaign had entered its second phase, the push forward again after a static period brought on by heavy seasonal rains. Our battle lines were haphazard as the terrain itself, with its flood swollen rivers that twisted back and forth across our line of march so that each river seemed like five. And where there was no river to cross, a mountain blocked our going – each peak ahead being a few meters higher than the last we had won so that each new peak had to be fought for the hard, uphill way with the enemy looking down our throats. They had had time to fortify and camouflage their positions No amount of artillery fire or aerial bombardment could force them to withdraw… that was for infantry to do, employing those weapons that can find and destroy life in narrow trenches, caves and fighting holes.  It was up to the man with the rifle, the man under fire from all weapons The man whose way all our weapons -  land, air and sea  - serve only to prepare It was up to the foot soldier – to attack a hidden enemy over ground that was sown with mines…the anti-personnel “S” mines that fly up at a footfall to explode beneath the groin. Nowhere along the entire front were enemy preparations more elaborate than in the San Pietro area. For San Pietro stands at the threshold of Liri Valley  and through Liri Valley wide and level runs the most highly prized length of road, south of Rome. By early December, we had taken and were holding high ground to the northeast, east and south of San Pietro…the Camino-Maggiore hill mass being last to fall. Italian troops under Allied command had made a vain attempt to capture Mt. Lungo. Possession of which would have acted greatly to our benefit in the impending action. But so excessive were the losses incurred that further operations against Mt. Lungo’s strategic heights were deemed unwarranted. No narration. It was thereon determined to make a direct frontal assault on enemy positions, around and within San Pietro Battalions of the 36th Texas Infantry division were rotated from position to position overlooking the valley so the troops might study the terrain ahead from various viewpoints No narration Patrol activity was continuous No narration Day and night, units went out to reconnoiter the ground, draw fire, take prisoners, thus adding to the sum of our information about the enemy. High points – Mt. Lungo’s 351 and Mt. Sammucro’s 1205 and 950, were all manned in force.  The town itself was strongly garrisoned with numerous mortar, machine gun and heavy weapon emplacements.  Four enemy battalions were dug into a line of connecting trenches and mutually supporting pill boxes in depth that extended from the base of Mt. Lungo northeast across the valley floor to the base of Mt. Sammucro. Another battalion was organized to defend the high ground northwest of San Pietro. Areas before these positions were heavily mined and held a confusion of barbed wire and booby traps.  On the afternoon before, D-Day and H-Hour were communicated to battalion commanders No narration December 8th at 0620 hours, the 1st Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment to attack the summit of 1205, having moved up the mountain under cover of darkness. And upon achieving its objective to attack along the ridge to a point northwest of San Pietro.  The 3rd Ranger Battalion likewise to attack 950 – another feature of the Mt. Sammucro Hill Mass.  The 2nd Battalion of the 143rd to attack over the terraced olive orchards northeast of San Pietro. The 3rd Battalion, acting in support to follow the 2nd at four hundred yards. Of the original force to establish the beachhead at Salerno, the 143rd had since spent all but a fortnight in action under extremely bitter weather conditions. At Salerno -- at the Volturno crossing it had taken mortal punishment. The task ahead promised no less bloodshed, yet it was undertaken in good spirits and high confidence. The 1st Battalion began the long, rugged climb up Mt. Sammucro. No narration As night fell our artillery opened up and throughout the night hours intense fire was laid down on the enemy’s main line of resistance. No narration It had rained most of the night and it was raining at “H” hour when the 2nd and 3rd battalions crossed the line of departure  No narration Some 200 yards forward they encountered mines and automatic fire from pill boxes No narration Mortar and artillery fire were deadly accurate by reason of excellent enemy observation from Mt. Lungo overlooking our advance.  Which continued another 200 to 400 yards. No narration Many men gave their lives in attempts to jump the wire, reach pill boxes and throw hand grenades through the narrow gun openings. The 3rd Battalion was committed. No narration The advance never got more than 600 yards past the line of departure. Our initial assault on San Pietro had been repulsed with heavy casualties. No narration. The attack on Hill 1205, however, was a brilliant success. Leading elements of the 1st Battalion had gained the summit of the objective before a strongly entrenched enemy knew that an assault was in progress. No narration To the right of Hill 1205 the 3rd Ranger Battalion had also captured its objective, but only after successive attacks and costly casualties – for on Hill 950 the enemy was not taken unaware. Counterattacks were to be expected on both 1205 and 950. They were not long developing. No narration The first was launched during the early daylight hours and even as it was beaten off, another took form. No narration Day and night they followed in unremitting violence. No narration The toll of enemy dead mounted with each new attempt… no narration But German prisoners captured on 1205 and 950 said that they had been ordered to retake those positions at all costs. No narration Acting in excellent cooperation, the artillery’s supporting power disrupted numerous enemy counterattacks while they were in the process of being formed. No narration In addition to defending Hill 1205, the 1st Battalion obedient to the field order, undertook the reduction of enemy defenses which were organized along the ridge running west. No narration On the 12th of December the 1st Battalion was reinforced by the 504th Parachute Battalion, which took over and maintained the defenses of 1205 and 950, No narration thereby enabling the 1st Battalion to throw its entire remaining strength into the assault along the ridge. But the 1st’s strength had dwindled and shrunk in the five days past and there was now a question as to whether its existing numbers were sufficient to prevail. Reports during the night of the 14th of December stated that the enemy was offering bitter resistance and that the issue was in grave doubt. Meanwhile, on the olive terraces below, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions had twice again attempted to reach their objective. No narration Both times they had come up a wall of automatic weapon, mortar and artillery fire. No narration Volunteer patrols made desperate attempts to reach enemy positions and reduce strong points.  No narration Not a single member of any such patrol ever came back alive No narration Our attacking forces were furnished excellent aerial cover by Allied fighter patrols, but now and then enemy planes were able to slip through and to bomb and strafe our positions. Which to all purposes, had remained unchanged since the first day. To break the deadlock, orders were given for a coordinated divisional attack. The 2nd and 3rd Batttalions of the 143rd to proceed in the execution of the original orders.  Acting in conjunction, Company A of the 753rd Tank Battalion to attack San Pietro from the east over the high road. One battalion of the 141st to attack over the flat valley floor. After nightfall on D-Day the 142nd Infantry Regiment to attack the heights of Mt. Lungo. In preparations for the attack, all Fifth Army artillery within range including tanks and all-tracks was directed against San Pietro and the surrounding area. No narration [midway through shot] “H” hour, 1200 hours “D” day, the 15th of December [midway through shot] The 141st  Infantry advanced some 400 yards from its line of departure no narration to be born down and held powerless under the weight of enemy fire.  No narration The 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 143rd advanced some one hundred yards beyond their former positions to a point almost directly before forward enemy defenses… and for the third time they were forced to take such cover as the quaking earth could offer. And the tanks…Orders were for them to enter the town and to locate and destroy the heavy weapons there, which were leveled against our attacking foot soldiers. No narration The high road into San Pietro is a narrow mountain road  and from the beginning of its winding descent into Lira Valley it was under direct enemy observation. No narration Sixteen tanks started down that road. Three reached the outskirts of the town. Of these, two were destroyed  and one was missing. Five tanks were immobilized behind enemy lines, their crews having to abandon them. Five tanks hit enemy mines within our lines and were thereupon destroyed by enemy gunfire. Four tanks returned to the bivouac area. After dark two companies, one from the 2nd Battalion and one from the 3rd Battalion finally succeeded in penetrating enemy positions before San Pietro. But receiving both frontal and flanking fire, they were forced to retire, Company “E” having been reduced in strength to eight rifleman and Company “L” faring little better. No narration On the Mt. Sammucro ridge the 1st Battalion fought its way to within a few hundred yards of the objective, but it had paid for ground gained at the rate of a man a yard, and they did not have strength to carry the fight any further forward. On Mt. Lungo, however, despite bitter resistance, battalions of the 142nd – in successive waves, kept pushing upwards  No narration Until in the early daylight hours of the 16th of December  its foot soldiers had gained the summit and were wiping up what remained of a stubborn enemy. No narration And that height proved to be a key position in the enemy plan of defense. For even as Mt. Lungo fell, the enemy throughout the San Pietro area made preparations to withdraw. Almost invariably the enemy will counterattack to cover a withdraw. The first violent thrust was delivered within a few hours. No narration (midway through shot) And thereafter, counterattacks came in waves, the roar of the last mingling with the rush and fury of the next to break. Many companies lost all their officers. Enlisted men came forward as inspirational leaders to rally their battered companies  into resisting yet one more onslaught. No narration Our own artillery was brought to fall within a hundred yards of our front line elements. No narration After five hours during which the earth never ceased to tremble, counterattacks ended, indicating that the withdrawal of the enemy’s main body had commenced. No narration In an effort to maintain contact, our patrols immediately pushed ahead. No narration (begins halfway through shot) Entering the town they discovered that San Pietro was ours for the taking. No narration The 2nd and 3rd Battalions, less than a rifle company in strength, weary to death, who were alive, stumbled forward past San Pietro to consolidate gains and re-establish contact with the enemy, now taking up new positions some five kilometers beyond. That is the broad shape of the battle of San Pietro, which was but the first of many battles  in Lira Valley.  It was a very costly battle. After the battle the 143rd Infantry Regiment alone required eleven hundred replacements. No narration (starts halfway through shot) The lives lost were precious lives, to their country, to their loved ones …and the men themselves. For the living of the 143rd Infantry Regiment more than one hundred decorations for acts of valor above and beyond  the call of duty. Many among these you see alive here have since joined the ranks of their brothers in arms who fell at San Pietro. For ahead lay San Vittori and the Rapido River  and Cassino and beyond Cassino more rivers and more mountains and more towns… more San Pietros…greater or lesser… a thousand more. As the battle passed over and beyond San Pietro, westward, townspeople began to appear, coming out of their caves in the mountains where they had staying in hiding during the enemy occupation. No narration They were mostly old people…And children. No narration Living was resumed in San Pietro. Children are able to forget quickly. Yesterday they wept… Today there are smiles and even laughter… tomorrow it will be as though the bad things had never happened. No narration Our prime military aim being to engage and defeat the enemy, the capture of the town itself and the liberation of its people is of an incidental nature.  But the people, in their military innocence, look upon us solely as their deliverers. It was to free them, and their farmlands, that we came.  Behind our lines, southwest, to the sea the fields are green with growing crops planted after our coming… by other people, of other towns, who believe likewise. The new won earth of San Pietro was plowed and sown. It should yield a good harvest this year. (starts midway through shot) And the people prayed to their patron saint to intercede with god on behalf of those who came, delivered them, and passed on to the north, with the passing battle. No narration

Image Text title Text Main Title Credits LS valley with sun streaming Second LS of valley Third LS of valley Closer shot of valley with buildings Dead trees (track right) Dead tree CU of dead tree and wooden frame Fallen dead tree LS of field with shell holes LS of blasted field with water filled hole LS through pass to valley LS of valley with box or truck(?) in right foreground Shot of map, zoom in to San Pietro LS of valley with shadows Low angle uphill of bombed out town (pan left) LS of fields Blasted statue of St. Peter LS, blasted church Looking up through bombed out dome, the rest of church (pan down) LS of church with dead tree in foreground Low angle of part of bombed out church Lowish angle, outlined piece of wreckage in upper middle of frame. High angle looking down on peasants with shovels. MS of peasants moving stones. LS of dead body in rubble. MS of dead body LS of valley with smoke (pan right) Trucks travelling through foggy street Map with pointer at line of squares LS of floodwaters Floodwaters, with dead trees in foreground Trucks crossing flooded river. Aerial shot of valley, moving left. MS, camouflaged artillery post CU, troops raising artillery piece LS of mountainside with smoke LS hillside with smoke, through trees CU of soldier affixing bayonet to rifle, pointing right CU prone soldier reaches for bayonet in belt (pan left) and affixes to rifle CU soldier attaching grenades to belt. MS field with barbed wire, soldier advances LR (LH) CU,  head of soldier moves RL CU head and shoulders of soldier with rifle (RH) moves RL CU head of soldier moves RL LS of hillsides and valley, pan LR LS of San Pietro half in shadow Trucks on road. LR Map of area. Pointer shows troop locations LS of smoke and explosions in valley MS Soldiers carrying stretcher with corpse down hillside, RL Longer shot, carrying stretcher down hillside, LR Loading corpses into truck CU of bodybags. LS line of troops walking RL CU of line of troops, toward camera, but RL MS three soldiers looking into the valley CU, two soldiers with maps LS of valley with smoke Two soldiers with maps (one pulls out binoculars) they look left. CU, soldier on phone Soldier going up bush hill, LR (gun in right hand ) CU soldier sliding on stomach through bushes, LR MS. Two soldiers talking, they salute and walk away MS, interviewing Germany prisoners CU, two German prisoners (helmeted one on left) Map with pointer CU of soldier on phone in left hand MS overhead of soldiers on phone MS of two soldiers on phones, leaning diagonally. CU low angle of soldier on phone MS, soldiers with rifles waiting around Map LS soldiers in foxholes CU, soldier in foxhole MS, soldier sitting with elbows on knees CU, smiling soldier (curled lapel on coat) CU, smiling soldier, chewing gum CU, soldier chewing gum (turns head screen right) CU, soldier with mustache, left half of screen CU, smiling soldier with netting on helmet CU, different smiling soldier with mustache, right half of screen CU, soldier looking up, left half of screen; turns head screen left. MS, soldier with mustache and rifle MS, soldier with tommy gun, back to camera MS, Line of soldiers walking uphill, diagonally RL Closer shot of same soldiers LS Soldiers advancing uphill away from camera, LR MS, line of soldiers going uphill, crossing RL Dissolve to night shots of artillery flashes of light (several different shots) LS daytime of valley LS, walking troops in orchards RL LS, troops in orchard, RL (some on hill in back) LS, troops walking fast, RL (one disappears behind large tree for a second) LS, one soldier walking slowly through orchard, seen through branches. RL LS, low angle, through branches, troops in orchard. RL LS, troops mid frame, moving away from camera, smoke in distance. Soldier is shot at end of shot. LS, troops running RL LS, very low angle, out of focus, two soldiers move RL LS, two soldiers run RL MS, soldiers move toward camera, and towards screen right, (very windy) LS, troops advance RL, lots of wind and smoke. MS, out of focus. Troops move RL MS. Out of focus. Troops move RL MS. Bright explosion Camera “pans” from straight ahead, and “falls” forward down. CU. Soldier pulls another into foxhole, toward camera, LR. LS, explosion at base of hill. MS. Closer explosion, lots of smoke MS. Soldier slides into foxhole of another, RL. MS. Explosion behind fallen dead tree MS. Soldier in foxhole looks at rock formations. Smokey. CU. Soldier pulls another into foxhole, left side of frame. MS, bright explosion Longer shot, bright explosion. Cut, same type of shot MS, two soldiers in foxhole in foreground, explosion in background. MS. Soldiers on ground, camera moves around wildly. Camera swerves around violently MS of corpse, half in shadow. MS, corpse with crossed legs, gun faces left. MS, troops through orchard, moving diagonally RL CU, out of focus, soldier moves RL MS, shaky camera pointed at ground, then pans up. (very short shot) LS, soldiers move RL LS, soldier moves RL MS, bright explosion near camera MS, soldier slides into foxhole with another, from screen left. MS, explosion behind fallen dead tree (same as shot above) LS, explosion in open field. MS, explosion closer to camera. MS, explosion in distance (same as one above) MS, explosion closer to camera MS. Putting corpses in white body bags. CU, putting a corpse in body bag. CU, putting corpse in body bag. CU, putting corpse in body bag. CU, putting corpse in body bag. CU, putting corpse in body bag. CU, crossing arms of corpse, Map MS, troops on ridge advance RL. CU, machine gun crew prepares. CU, machine gunner aims gun. LR CU, soldier with tommy gun puts rock in front of him.  LR CU, soldier behind rocks. LR MS, low angle, soldier prone on a rock. RL MS, line of soldiers walking uphill, LR. MS, line of soldiers walking diagonally (flat ground), LR. Smoke in background MS. Carrying stretcher downhill, LR. Closer shot, carrying stretcher downhill, LR. LS, soldiers at base of rocky hill. CU, prone soldier in Left foreground, looking uphill MS. Soldiers on ridge in left foreground, explosion downhill on the right High angle, soldiers on ridge in left foreground, explosion downhill to the right. LS, explosion behind some tall bushes MS. Soldiers hiding behind rocks, explosion behind rocks MS. Soldiers looking down into valley, explosion in front of them.  (very short) MS, helmet in close foreground, rocks and explosion in background (very short shot) LS, explosion in left background, soldiers barely visible in right middle distance.  (very short shot) LS, prone soldiers in foreground on rocky hill, explosion in middle distance. Shaky camera explosion in distance. CU, machine gun crew fires, RL LS, tracer bullets toward hillside in distance CU. Machine gunner in left foreground shooting. LS, tracer bullets hit far hillside LS, explosions on hillside CU. Mortar loaded and fired LS, explosions on hillside CU Dead enemy soldier, RL CU. German corpse, head in upper left. CU. German corpse. Head in lower left. CU. Germany corpse. Head in upper right. Mask pulled off face. CU. German corpse. Upsidedown in frame MS. Prisoners being lead downhill on zigzag trail CU. Three POWs, looking left . CU, POW. LS, artillery fires at town (emplacement in bottom of frame in foreground LS, artillery fires, gun is facing R LS, explosions in far distance, dead tree trunks in foreground. LS, artillery fires at town (same as above) MS. Canon fires RL, camouflage netting above. MS. Canon fires, lower left of screen, disappears from frame. MS. Tank fires, RL LS, artillery piece fires (three soldiers in foreground) LS, explosions on top of mountain  LS, explosions on hillside LS, explosions in valley. Map MS. Soldier in left side of frame throws hand grenade,  [from NFPF cover] right handed.  Pan right. MS. Explosion. Left of frame MS. Soldiers advance, away from camera. MS. Soldier runs uphill right to left, camera pans left.  Lays down on rocks Closer shot. Soldier on left side of frame throws hand grenade right handed.  He and another soldier pick up their rifles and advance. MS. Another soldier, in left side of frame, throws hand grenade, right handed. Pan right Cut. LS. Explosion in right side of frame. LS. Soldier in distance throws grenade right handed. Cut. LS. Explosion on hillside above two prone soldiers. MS. Line of soldiers walking LR. MS. Line of soldiers on hillside trail, walking LR LS, Prone soldiers behind rocks on hill shooting down into valley MS. Prone soldier behind rocks firing LR MS. Soldier from behind rock firing LR. LS, explosion on left of screen LS. Soldiers advancing uphill away from camera. Out of focus rock in foreground. Soldiers on hillside in middle distance. One dead? MS. Bringing down wounded in stretcher, toward camera Closer. Bringing down stretcher, LR MS. Soldier on telephone, soldier on rifle behind him. CU. Soldier in profile, facing screen right, in and out of shadow. LS, soldiers moving through very smoky orchard. RL LS, solider moving through orchard, diagonally RL MS, bright explosion MS, soldiers in foxhole in foreground LS, explosion in valley MS, explosion LS, explosions in valley LS, soldiers move into the open and go prone MS, soldiers run RL, one drops his gun, pan RL LS. Explosion in orchard CU. Soldier leaving foxhole away from camera, to the Left CU. Another soldier leaving foxhole away from camera to the left . Out of focus MS. Soldiers advancing away from camera, to the left. LS. Soldiers advancing through orchard away from camera, drop to prone. LS. Explosion LS. P-38 planes in sky. LS. Dive bomber attacking. Barbed wire in foreground LS. Explosions in valley MS. Officers in helmets looking at map, facing right. MS. Officers in caps looking at map. Facing left Map LS. Artillery piece raised CU of cannon breech. MS. Sherman tank moving RL MS. Artillery piece with camouflage netting above it. MS. Tank turret rotating clockwise MS. Artillery piece with breech open MS. Soldier with mustache on phone. LS. Cannon being raised MS. Soldier with glasses on phone. Faces right MS. Cannon next to tree is raised CU. Artillery soldiers working, overhead shot MS. Two soldiers carry shell in a carrier. Shell is loaded into breech. RL CU. Explosive loaded into breech, breech is closed MS. Soldier with glasses gives order to fire. CU. Soldier looks through binoculars. RL MS. Soldier fires cannon. MS. Soldier looks through binoculars. RL LS. Cannon fires. MS. Artillery fires at town (shot used previously) LS. Cannon fires LS. Sherman tank fires. Seen from rear. MS. High angle of artillery crew firing cannon. MS. Self propelled gun fires. Seen from behind. Soldier on top looking through binoculars. LS. Several tanks dug in firing. RL MS. Barrel of cannon seen firing. LS. Explosions on hillside LS. High angle. Explosions in town. LS. Low angle. Explosions in town. MS. Self propelled gun firing, being loaded. LS. Large cannon firing. LR MS. Small cannon firing. LR MS. Large cannon firing. Very short. LR MS. Cannon firing. Camouflage netting above. CU. Low angle of soldier looking through binoculars. Camouflage netting above. LS. High angle. Explosions in valley. MS. Crew fires cannon. LS. Sherman tank fires. Seen from behind LS. M-10 Tank Destroyers firing. RL CU. Cannon fires, seen from behind MS. Cannon fires, RL MS. Cannon fires, moves out of frame. LR MS. Tank fires, RL MS. High angle. Artillery crew fires cannon. CU. Soldier fires large cannon LS. Explosions in town CU. Soldier holding binoculars CU. Soldiers synchronizing watches CU. One soldier’s watch LS. Soldiers advance through field toward town, seen from behind. MS. Soldiers move RL. LS. Soldiers reach trees, continuation of the one just before previous. They fall prone when explosion hits. MS. Closer shot of same LS. Soldiers in foxholes LS. Prone soldiers in field. LS. Soldiers in foxhole. Blast shakes camera LS. High angle, troops advance through large bushes downhill MS. Low angle of barbed wire. MS. Prone soldiers behind barbed wire. MS. Closer of same RL LS. Soldiers and barbed wire MS. Soldier with rifle behind barbed wire LS. Soldiers behind barbed wire MS. Soldiers behind barbed wire. MS. Soldiers behind barbed wire. MS. Soldiers behind barbed wire. Post MS. Soldiers behind barbed wire. LS. Sherman tank moves out from behind building. LR. Pan right LS. Tank moving LR. LS. Tank moving LR in far distance.  Pan right LS-MS. Tank advancing on road straight at camera. LS. Switchback mountain road MS. Tank on road, moving LR toward camera. Pan right MS. Tank moving toward camera. LR MS Tank moving toward camera, RL. Pan left LS. Road into town CU. Tank moves past camera. LR, then away from camera. MS. Artillery fires LS. Valley and town. MS. Wrecked tank, turret blown off. LS. Turretless tank on hillside MS. Upside down tank MS. Upside down tank with tree branches behind MS. Carrying stretchers, LR MS. Low angle of tank moving in shadow LS. Night scene. Flares LS. Night gunfire and flares CU. Soldier with beard on stretcher. LR CU. Clean shaven soldier on stretcher. LR CU. Bearded soldier on stretcher. LR CU. Mustached soldier on stretcher. LR. CU. Another mustached soldier on stretcher. LR. LS. Soldiers among rocks. Pan left. Shaky camera. Camera swerves around. CU. Dead soldier head toward camera MS. Dead soldier. LS. Dead soldier. Feet toward camera MS. Dead soldier. Valley in background LS. Soldiers running in open. RL LS. Soldiers running across rocks, RL MS. Soldiers firing, partly obscured by bushes. RL CU. Soldier firing rifle. Seen from behind. CU. Soldier firing rifle. Seen from behind. No helmet. CU. Soldier firing automatic rifle. LR LS. Two soldiers throw hand grenades, right handed. MS. One soldier gets up from prone, throws grenade right handed LS. Soldiers advance LR. Pan right LS. Soldier on left screen moves down toward valley. MS. Soldier with tommy gun moves RL CU. Soldiers move uphill toward camera. RL MS. Low angle soldiers going uphill, past smoking hole. MS. Soldiers zigzag past smoking hold MS. Closer. Soldiers look into hole MS. Soldiers look down into valley. LR LS. Soldiers looking down into valley. RL LS. Explosions in valley LS. Explosions on hillside LS. Explosions in bushy area LS. Explosions in valley CU. Explosion close to camera, camera shakes wildly LS. Soldiers moving LR LS. Soldiers firing from foxholes. LR LS. Prone soldiers firing LR LS. Prone soldier firing bazooka LS. Mortars fired from valley MS. Mortar team loading and firing mortars. High angle. RL MS. Soldier with binoculars looking into valley LS. Smoke in valley LS. Explosion in middle distance LS. Explosions MS. Explosion behind dead fallen tree (used twice before) LS. Explosion in valley (extremely short shot) MS. High angle. Soldier behind rocks (extremely short shot) LS. Explosion. (extremely short) LS. Explosion closer (extremely short) LS. Explosion (extremely short) LS. Dead soldier’s backpack (es) LS. Explosion. Dead? Soldier in foreground LS. Explosion fills screen LS. Explosion. Dead soldier in foreground (continuation of former shot) LS. Explosion behind dead fallen tree. Continuation of previously used shot. Soldier gets up at end. CU. Soldier raises up, looking left. LS. Prone soldiers get up a bit MS. Soldiers in foxhole in the foreground CU. Soldiers get up to advance. RL Cu. Soldiers advance uphill. LR CU. Soldier falls to ground, RL CU. Soldier crawls, RL CU. Soldier getting up, toward camera, LR LS. Soldiers running through blasted buildings, RL. Pan left. Camera stops, blast. Continues pan LS. Soldiers advance through open field, away from camera, toward right MS. Soldiers walking RL. Pan left. Shaky camera. Explosion LS. Soldiers coming out of foxholes LS. Soldiers walk past camera and away. LS. Soldiers advance toward camera. Head of dead soldier in foreground, on right side of frame. LS. Soldiers walking away from camera, RL LS. Soldiers on ridge moving toward blasted building on left. LS. Blasted town seen through dead trees. Soldiers walk past camera screen left. MS. Soldiers crouching, stand up. MS. Crouching soldiers move forward, RL. Pan left MS. Soldiers coming toward camera, LR. Camera drops down when soldier does. MS. Soldiers walking toward camera, guns pointed toward right. MS. Soldiers walking toward camera. Guns pointed right LS soldier bends to look in basement.  RL CU. Soldier looking up. Low angle. RL. Pan Left LS. High angle. Soldiers moving RL MS. Soldier coming out of hole.  Gun in right hand, moves right MS. Soldiers moving LR. One without helmet MS. Guy walking toward camera, looks at camera.  Other guys walk up. LS. Explosion in valley. LS. Line of soldiers with stretcher. LR. Pan right LS. Soldiers with stretcher move toward camera. LS. Graveyard. Digging graves in foreground. Carrying US flag LR. Pan right to gravediggers MS. Shoveling dirt from grave. CU/MS. Very young gravedigger looks at camera, body lowered into grave MS. Nailing dog tags to headstones CU. Same MS. Guys lounging and talking CU. Guy with tommy gun.  Pan right to guy with tobacco in cheek. Camera stops, then continues CU. Guy smiling looking right CU. Line of guys, middle one is medic. CU. Two guys looking left. CU. Guy with cigar, tree behind. MS. Soldiers and peasants walking down rubble.  Toward left LS. Wounded peasants, one on a crutch and face bandage. MS.  Peasants running out of cave. MS. Peasant on crutches in field LS. Covered woman walking down incline. LS.  Old guy with cane, kid. RL MS. Old guy with cane coming toward camera LS. Soldiers and peasants walk through town. Woman looks back at camera High angle, digging out bombed out building MS. Finding buried body MS. Grieving husband MS. Pulling out dead body. MS. Woman wipes away tears MS. Pulling out body CU. Grieving man CU. Grieving breastfeeding woman LS. Line of women holding babies. MS. Line of women with baskets on heads. MS. Woman with baskets on head LS. Woman with casket on head LS. Woman with casket, low angle MS. Woman with baggage on head MS. Woman with lace tablecloth. Beam across top of frame. LS. Woman raking dirt in shadow LS. Low angle. Women talking across ruined building. MS. Woman with basket on head, passes kids LS. Woman with dresser on head. MS. Woman with dresser on head MS. Man holding boy getting ration card MS. Man leading cows. RL. Stops to look at camera MS. Cut. Shot continues MS. Soldier on truck hands sack of flower to peasant. Pan right MS. High angle. Distributing flour MS. Distributing flour CU. Guy checking scales MS. High angle. Group gets flour CU. Women getting flour CU. Group getting flour. Woman puts sack on her head CU. Profile of man. Pans down to tattered clothes LS. Woman washing clothes in foreground, American truck crosses bridge in background. MS. Woman with kids. Pushes kid away MS. Over the shoulder of cobbler MS. Young woman and kids come out of cave. CU. Kids with spoon in his mouth. Pan left CU. Girl with strand of hair in face. MS. Kids.  One points at camera LS. Kid with long coat walks LR MS. Two small kids hand in hand walk LR MS. Kid smiles at camera pan down right to his feet in big shoes walking through mud.  Pan right CU. Girl holds baby. Pan left CU. Two girls next to mother CU. Baby girl held by mother, holds cookie MS. Small boy in hat walks up street MS. Three kids walk downhill street CU. Smiling girl MS. Barefoot kid in hat walks toward camera CU. Girl paws through grain barrel MS. Kids laughing, with woman CU. Small kids nest to mother looks scared CU. Small kid against wall chewing CU. Girl with clothes in mouth. Pan left to boy CU. Girl with headscarf. LS. Kids pushing toy, cross in background. LS. Field with orchard in distance. LS. Woman and child in field LS. Man and oxen plowing field MS. Man and oxen plowing field CU. Man and oxen, move RL CU. Plow going through earth. Pan left LS. Procession of altar boys MS. Statue of St. Peter MS. Procession of altar boys CU. Of head of St. Peter Liberty bell - V

 

SAN PIETRO

Short Version, 32 minutes

Close to script dated January 5, 1945. But still not exactly the same. Final release version approved March 16, 1945

Text or pictures highlighted in red are different from 38 minute version

XX – different shot order, or text or shot(s) missing from 38 minute version

In 1943, it was one of our strategic aims, to draw as many German armed forces as possible away from the Russian front, and French coastal areas, and to contain them on the Italian peninsula, while liberating as much of Italy as might be possible with the means at our disposal.  As the bulk of our supplies was directed to England for the forthcoming invasion, operations in Italy had to be conducted on an extremely limited scale. Thus it came about, that during the winter months, the number of Allied divisions in Italy was greatly reduced. Yet so determined was their effort, that they succeeded in holding Italy, a very large number of German divisions during the pre-invasion period. San Pietro, in the 5th Army sector, was the key to the Lira Valley. We knew it, and the enemy knew it. We had to take it, even though the immediate cost would be high. We took it, and the cost in relation to the later advance, was not excessive. By its very nature, this success worked bitter hardships upon each individual soldier, calling for the full measure of his courage and devotion. The response of our 5th Army troops provides an inspiring page, in our military history. To these individuals, living and dead, and to those who now continue in their tradition, this picture is dedicated.

Mark Clark intro

Text XXThe War Department Presents SAN PIETRO Produced by the Army Pictorial Service / Music: The Army Air Force Orchestra / The Mormon Tabernacle Choir / St. Brendan’s Boys Choir Lira Valley lies in the Italian midland, some sixty miles northwest of Naples, to some forty miles southeast of Rome – a wide flat corridor, enclosed between four walls of mountains.   In winter, the highest peaks of the Liri range ascend into the snows, but the valley floor, with its olive groves and ancient vines, its crops of wheat and corn, is green the year around. That is, in normal times. Last year was a bad year for grapes and olives and the fall planting was late. Many fields lay fallow There are two ways from the south into the valley: one a narrow pass the other a high scenic road over the mountains They converge before the site of the ancient village of San Pietro which for seven hundred years has stood at the threshold of Liri Valley, welcoming the traveler. The stones of its walls were quarried out of the parent hill from whose slopes it rises. Population, fourteen hundred and twelve at the last census. A farming community. Patron saint: Peter Point of interest:  Saint Peter’s, 1438 Note interesting treatment of chancel From the end of October, 1943, until the middle of December, San Pietro and the surrounding ground was the scene of some of the bitterest fighting on our Fifth Army Front. The Italian Campaign had entered its second phase, the push forward again after a static period brought on by heavy seasonal rains. Our battle lines were haphazard as the terrain itself, with its flood swollen rivers that twisted back and forth across our line of march so that each river seemed like five. No narration And where there was no river to cross, a mountain blocked our going – each peak ahead being a few meters higher than the last we had won so that each new peak had to be fought for the hard, uphill way with the enemy looking down our throats. They had had time to fortify and camouflage their positions No amount of artillery fire or aerial bombardment could force them to withdraw… that was for infantry to do, employing those weapons that can find and destroy life  in narrow trenches, caves and fighting holes.  It was up to the man with the rifle, the man under fire from all weapons. The man whose way all our weapons - land, air and sea  - serve only to prepare. It was up to the foot soldier – to attack a hidden enemy over ground that was sown with mines…the anti-personnel “S” mines that fly up at a footfall to explode beneath the groin. Nowhere along the entire front were enemy preparations more elaborate than in the San Pietro area. For San Pietro stands at the threshold of Liri Valley  and through Liri Valley wide and level runs the most highly prized length of road, south of Rome. By early December, we had taken and were holding high ground to the northeast, east and south of San Pietro…the Camino-Maggiore hill mass being last to fall. An Italian brigade under Allied command had made a vain attempt to capture Mt. Lungo, possession of which would have acted greatly to our benefit in the impending action. The Italians were all but annihilated. In view of their excessive loses, further operations against Mt. Lungo’s strategic heights were abandoned And it was decided to make a direct frontal assault on enemy positions, in and around San Pietro Elements of the 36th Texas Infantry division were rotated from position to position overlooking the valley so the troops might study the terrain ahead from various viewpoints No narration Patrol activity was continuous No narration Day and night, units went out to reconnoiter the ground, draw fire, take prisoners, thus adding to the sum of our information about the enemy. High points – Mt. Lungo’s 351 and Mt. Sammucro’s 1205 and 950, were all manned in force.  The town itself was strongly garrisoned with numerous mortar, machine gun and heavy weapon emplacements.  Four enemy battalions were dug into a line of connecting trenches and mutually supporting pill boxes in depth that extended from the base of Mt. Lungo northeast across the valley floor to the base of Mt. Sammucro. Another battalion was organized to defend the high ground northwest of San Pietro. Areas before these positions were heavily mined and held a confusion of barbed wire and booby traps.  On the afternoon before, D-Day and H-Hour were communicated to battalion commanders No narration December 8th at 0620 hours, the 1st Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment to attack the summit of 1205, having moved up the mountain under cover of darkness. And upon achieving its objective to attack along the ridge to a point northwest of San Pietro.  The 3rd Ranger Battalion likewise to attack 950 – another feature of the Mt. Sammucro Hill Mass.  The 2nd Battalion of the 143rd to attack over the terraced olive orchards northeast of San Pietro. The 3rd Battalion, acting in support to follow the 2nd at four hundred yards. Of the original force to establish the beachhead at Salerno, the 143rd had since spent all but a fortnight in action under extremely bitter weather conditions.  At Salerno -- at the Volturno crossing it had taken mortal punishment. The task ahead promised no less bloodshed, yet it was undertaken in good spirits and high confidence. The 1st Battalion began the long, rugged climb up Mt. Sammucro. No narration As night fell our artillery opened up and throughout the night hours, intense fire was laid down on the enemy’s main line of resistance. No narration It had rained most of the night and it was raining at “H” hour when the 2nd and 3rd battalions crossed the line of departure  No narration XXSome 200 yards forward they encountered mines and automatic fire from pill boxes No narration XXMortar and artillery fire were deadly accurate by reason of excellent enemy observation from Mt. Lungo overlooking our advance.   XXWhich continued another 200 to 400 yards. No narration XXMany men gave their lives in attempts to XXreach pill boxes and throw hand grenades through the narrow gun openings. The 3rd Battalion was committed. No narration But the advance never got more than 600 yards past the line of departure. Our initial assault on San Pietro had been repulsed with heavy casualties. No narration. The attack on Hill 1205, however, was a brilliant success. Leading elements of the 1st Battalion had gained the summit of the objective before a strongly entrenched enemy knew that an assault was in progress. No narration To the right of Hill 1205 the 3rd Ranger Battalion had also captured its objective, but only after successive attacks and costly casualties – for on XX 950 the enemy was not taken unaware. Counterattacks were to be expected on both 1205 and 950. They were not long developing. No narration The first was launched during the early daylight hours and even as it was beaten off, another took form. No narration Day and night they followed with unremitting violence. No narration The toll of enemy dead mounted with each new attempt… no narration But German prisoners captured on 1205 and 950 said that they had been ordered to retake those positions at all costs. XX In addition to defending Hill 1205, the 1st Battalion obedient to the field order, undertook the reduction of enemy defenses which were organized along the ridge running west. No narration XXOn the 12th of December the 1st Battalion was reinforced by the 504th Parachute Battalion, which took over and maintained the defenses of 1205 and 950, thereby enabling the 1st Battalion to throw its entire remaining strength into the assault along the ridge. But the 1st’s strength had dwindled and shrunk in the five days past and there was now a question as to whether its existing numbers were sufficient to prevail. Reports during the night of the 14th of December stated that the enemy was offering bitter resistance and that the issue was in grave doubt. Meanwhile, on the olive terraces below, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions had twice again attempted to reach their objective. No narration Both XXtimes they had come up a wall of automatic weapon, mortar and artillery fire. No narration XXVolunteer patrols made desperate attempts to reach enemy positions and reduce strong points.  No narration Not a single member of any such patrol ever came back alive No narration Our attacking forces were furnished excellent aerial cover by Allied fighter patrols, No narration but now and then enemy planes were able to slip through and to bomb and strafe our positions. Which to all purposes, had remained unchanged since the first day. To break the deadlock, orders were given for a coordinated divisional attack. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 143rd to proceed in the execution of the original orders.  Acting in conjunction, Company A of the 753rd Tank Battalion to attack San Pietro from the east over the high road. One battalion of the 141st to attack over the flat valley floor. After nightfall on D-Day the 142nd Infantry Regiment to attack XX Mt. Lungo. The earlier decision not to attack those strategic heights having been reversed in view of the present critical situation. In preparation XX for the attack, all Fifth Army artillery within range including tanks and all-tracks was directed against San Pietro and the surrounding area. No narration [midway through shot] “H” hour, 1200 hours “D” day, the 15th of December [midway through shot] The 141st  Infantry advanced some 400 yards from its line of departure no narration to be born down and held powerless under the weight of enemy fire.  No narration The 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 143rd advanced some one hundred yards beyond their former positions to a point almost directly before forward enemy defenses… and for the third time they were forced to take such cover as the quaking earth could offer. And the tanks… Orders were for them to enter the town XXto locate and destroy the heavy weapons there, which were leveled against our attacking foot soldiers. XX The high road into San Pietro is a narrow mountain road  and from the beginning of its winding descent into Lira Valley it was under direct enemy observation. No narration Sixteen tanks started down that road. Three reached the outskirts of the town. Of these, two were destroyed  and one was missing. Five tanks were immobilized behind enemy lines, their crews having to abandon them. Five tanks hit enemy mines within our lines and were thereupon destroyed by enemy gunfire. Four tanks returned to the bivouac area. After dark two companies, one from the 2nd Battalion and one from the 3rd Battalion finally succeeded in penetrating enemy positions before San Pietro. But receiving both frontal and flanking fire, they were forced to retire, Company “E” having been reduced in strength to a handful of rifleman XX and Company “L” faring little better. No narration On the Mt. Sammucro ridge the 1st Battalion fought its way to within a few hundred yards of the objective, but it had paid for ground gained at the rate of a man a yard, and it did not have strength to carry the fight any further forward. On Mt. Lungo, however, despite bitter resistance, XX battalions of the XX 142nd – in successive waves, kept pushing upwards  No narration XX Until in the early daylight hours of the 16th of December  its foot soldiers had gained the summit and were wiping up what remained of a stubborn enemy. XX And that height proved to be a key position in the enemy plan of defense. For even as Mt. Lungo fell, XX the enemy throughout the San Pietro area made preparations XX to withdraw.  XX Almost invariably the enemy XX will counterattack XXto cover a withdraw. The first violent thrust was XX delivered within a few hours. XX (midway through shot) And thereafter, counterattacks came in waves, the roar of the last mingling with the rush and fury of the next to break. Many companies lost all their officers. Enlisted men came forward as inspirational leaders to rally their battered companies  into resisting yet one more onslaught. No narration XXOur own artillery was brought to fall within a hundred yards of our front line elements. No narration XXAfter five hours during which the earth never ceased to tremble, counterattacks ended, indicating that the withdrawal of the enemy’s main body had commenced. No narration XXIn an effort to maintain contact with the enemy, our patrols immediately pushed ahead. No narration XXEntering the town they discovered that San Pietro was ours for the taking. No narration The 2nd and 3rd Battalions, less than a rifle company in strength, weary to death, who were alive, stumbled forward past San Pietro to consolidate gains and re-establish contact with the enemy, now taking up new positions some five kilometers beyond. That is the broad shape of the battle of San Pietro, XX which was but the first of many battles XX in Lira Valley.  It was a very costly battle. XX After the battle the 143rd Infantry Regiment alone required eleven hundred replacements. No narration (starts halfway through shot) The lives lost were precious lives, to their country, to their loved ones …and the men themselves. For the living of the 143rd Infantry Regiment more than one hundred decorations for acts of valor above and beyond  the call of duty. Many among these you see alive here have since joined the ranks of their brothers in arms who fell at San Pietro. For ahead lay San Vittori and the Rapido River  and Cassino and beyond Cassino  more rivers and more mountains and more towns…more San Pietros…greater or lesser… a thousand more. As the battle passed over and beyond San Pietro, westward, townspeople began to appear, XX coming out of their caves in the mountains where they had staying in hiding during the enemy occupation. XX They were mostly old people…And children. No narration The townspeople were warned against enemy mines and booby traps Which were in the process of being cleared No narration XX Children are able to forget quickly. XX Yesterday they wept…Today there are smiles and  XX even laughter… No narration Tomorrow it will be as though the bad things had never happened. No narration Living was resumed in San Pietro. XX (begins midshot) Our prime military aim XX being to engage and defeat the enemy, the capture of the town itself and the liberation of XX its people is of an incidental nature.  XX But the people, in their military innocence, XX look upon us solely as their XX  deliverers. It was to free them, and their farmlands, that we  came.  No narration XX Behind our lines, southwest, to the sea, the fields are green with growing crops XX planted after our coming…by other people, of other towns, who believe likewise. The new won earth at San Pietro was plowed and sown. It should yield a good harvest this year. (starts midway through shot) And the people prayed XX to their patron saint to intercede with god on behalf of those who came, delivered them, XX and passed on to the north, with the passing battle. No narration

Image Text Main Title Credits LS valley with sun streaming Second LS of valley Third LS of valley Closer shot of valley with buildings Dead trees (track right) Dead tree CU of dead tree and wooden frame Fallen dead tree LS of field with shell holes LS of blasted field with water filled hole LS through pass to valley LS of valley with box or truck(?) in right foreground Shot of map, zoom in to San Pietro LS of valley with shadows Low angle uphill of bombed out town (pan left) LS of fields Blasted statue of St. Peter LS, blasted church Looking up through bombed out dome, the rest of church (pan down) LS of valley with smoke (pan right) Trucks on muddy road Map with pointer at line of squares LS of floodwaters Floodwaters, with dead trees in foreground Trucks crossing flooded river. LS. floodwaters Aerial shot of valley, moving left. CU, troops raising artillery piece CU, soldier looking through binoculars MS. Self propelled gun firing. Guy with binoculars on top LS of mountainside with smoke LS hillside with smoke, through trees CU of soldier affixing bayonet to rifle. Facing left. CU prone soldier reaches for bayonet in belt (pan left) and affixes to rifle CU soldier attaching grenades to belt. High angle MS field with barbed wire, soldier advances RL CU,  head of soldier moves RL CU head and shoulders of soldier with rifle (RH) moves RL CU head of soldier moves RL CU head of second soldier moves RL LS of hillsides and valley, pan LR LS of San Pietro half in shadow Trucks on road. LR Map of area. Pointer shows troop locations LS of smoke and explosions in valley MS. Italian troops carrying stretcher. LS Soldiers carrying stretcher with corpse down hillside, LR Loading corpses into truck LS line of troops walking RL CU of line of troops, toward camera, but RL MS three soldiers looking into the valley CU, two soldiers with maps LS of valley with smoke CU, soldier on phone Soldier going up bushy hill, RL (gun in left hand ) CU soldier sliding on stomach through bushes, LR MS. Two soldiers talking, they salute and walk away MS, interviewing Germany prisoners CU, two German prisoners (helmeted one on left) Map with pointer CU of soldier on phone in left hand MS overhead of soldiers on phone MS of two soldiers on phones, leaning diagonally. CU low angle of soldier on phone MS, soldiers with rifles waiting around Map LS soldiers in foxholes XX MS, soldier sitting with elbows on knees CU, smiling soldier (curled lapel on coat) CU, smiling soldier, chewing gum CU, soldier chewing gum (turns head screen right) CU, soldier with mustache, left half of screen CU, smiling soldier with netting on helmet CU, different smiling soldier with mustache, right half of screen CU, soldier looking up, left half of screen; turns head screen left. MS, soldier with tommy gun, back to camera XXMS, Line of soldiers walking uphill, diagonally RL XXMS, line of soldiers going uphill, crossing RL XXDissolve to night shots of artillery flashes of light (several different shots) LS daytime of valley LS, walking troops in orchards RL LS, troops in orchard, RL (some on hill in back) XXLS, one soldier walking slowly through orchard, seen through branches. RL XXLS, troops mid frame, moving away from camera, smoke in distance. Soldier is shot at end of shot. XXLS, very low angle, out of focus, two soldiers move RL LS, two soldiers run RL XXMS, out of focus. Troops move RL XXMS. Out of focus. Troops move RL MS. Bright explosion Camera “pans” from straight ahead, and “falls” forward down. CU. Soldier pulls another into foxhole, toward camera, RL. XXMS. Explosion behind fallen dead tree MS. Soldier in foxhole looks at rock formations. Smokey. CU. Soldier pulls another into foxhole, left side of frame. XXMS, two soldiers in foxhole in foreground, explosion in background. MS. Soldiers on ground, camera moves around wildly. Camera swerves around violently MS of corpse, half in shadow. MS, corpse with crossed legs, gun faces left. MS, troops through orchard, moving diagonally RL CU, out of focus, soldier moves RL XXLS, soldiers move RL LS, soldier moves RL MS, bright explosion near camera MS, soldier slides into foxhole with another, from screen left. MS, explosion behind fallen dead tree (same as shot above) LS, explosion in open field. MS, explosion closer to camera. MS, explosion with dead body in foreground MS, explosion closer to camera MS. Putting corpses in white body bags. CU, putting a corpse in body bag. CU, putting corpse in body bag. XX CU, crossing arms of corpse. Map MS, troops on ridge advance RL. XX CU, machine gun crew prepares. CU, machine gunner aims gun. RL CU, soldier with tommy gun puts rock in front of him.  RL (left handed) CU, soldier behind rocks. RL. (left handed) MS, low angle, soldier prone on a rock. RL XX MS, line of soldiers walking uphill, RL. MS, line of soldiers walking diagonally (flat ground), RL. Smoke in background MS. Carrying stretcher downhill, LR. Closer shot, carrying stretcher downhill, LR. LS, soldiers at base of rocky hill. CU, prone soldier in Right foreground, looking uphill MS. Soldiers on ridge in left foreground, explosion downhill on the right High angle, soldiers on ridge in left foreground, explosion downhill to the right. LS, explosion behind some tall bushes MS. Soldiers hiding behind rocks, explosion behind rocks XX Shaky camera explosion in distance. CU, machine gun crew fires, RL LS, tracer bullets toward hillside in distance CU. Machine gunner in right foreground shooting. LS, tracer bullets hit far hillside LS, explosions on hillside CU. Mortar loaded and fired LS, explosions on hillside CU Dead enemy soldier, RL CU. German corpse, head in upper left. CU. German corpse. Head in lower left. CU. Germany corpse. Head in upper right. Mask pulled off face. CU. German corpse. Upside down in frame MS. Prisoners being lead downhill on zigzag trail XX CU, POW. XX MS. Three German prisoners looking left (this shot switched with one above) XX MS. Soldier in right side of frame throws hand grenade, [from NFPF cover] left handed.  Pan left. XX MS. Explosion. Left of frame MS. Soldiers advance, away from camera. Map MS. Soldier runs uphill right to left, camera pans left.  Lays down on rocks Closer shot. Soldier on right side of frame throws hand grenade left handed.  He and another soldier pick up their rifles and advance. MS. Another soldier, in right side of frame, throws hand grenade, left handed. Pan left Cut. LS. Explosion in right side of frame. LS. Soldier in distance throws grenade right handed. Cut. LS. Explosion on hillside above two prone soldiers. MS. Line of soldiers walking RL. MS. Line of soldiers on hillside trail, walking RL LS, Prone soldiers behind rocks on hill shooting down into valley MS. Prone soldier behind rocks firing RL XX LS, explosion on left of screen LS. Soldiers advancing uphill away from camera. Out of focus rock in foreground. Soldiers on hillside in middle distance. One dead? MS. Bringing down wounded in stretcher, toward camera Closer. Bringing down stretcher, LR MS. Soldier on telephone, soldier on rifle behind him. Flipped to face screen left CU. Soldier in profile, facing screen left, in and out of shadow. LS, soldiers moving through very smoky orchard. RL LS, solider moving through orchard, diagonally RL MS, bright explosion MS, soldiers in foxhole in foreground LS, explosion in valley XX LS, soldiers move into the open and go prone MS, soldiers run RL, one drops his gun, pan RL LS. Explosion in orchard CU. Soldier leaving foxhole away from camera, to the Left CU. Another soldier leaving foxhole away from camera to the left . Out of focus MS. Soldiers advancing away from camera, to the left. LS. Soldiers advancing through orchard away from camera, drop to prone. LS. Explosion LS. P-38 planes in sky. CU. Soldier in left frame looks up LS. Dive bomber attacking. Barbed wire in foreground LS. Explosions in valley MS. Officers in helmets looking at map, facing right. MS. Officers in caps looking at map. Facing left Map CU. One guy on phone another behind. They look at map LS. Artillery piece raised CU of cannon breech. MS. Sherman tank moving RL MS. Artillery piece with camouflage netting above it. MS. Tank turret rotating clockwise MS. Artillery piece with breech open MS. Soldier with mustache on phone. LS. Cannon being raised MS. Soldier with glasses on phone. Faces left. MS. Cannon next to tree is raised CU. Artillery soldiers working, overhead shot MS. Two soldiers carry shell in a carrier. Shell is loaded into breech. RL CU. Explosive loaded into breech, breech is closed MS. Soldier with glasses gives order to fire. CU. Soldier looks through binoculars. RL MS. Soldier fires cannon. MS. Soldier looks through binoculars. RL LS. Cannon fires. MS. Artillery fires at town (shot used previously) LS. Cannon fires LS. Artillery shells town LS. Sherman tank fires. Seen from rear. MS. High angle of artillery crew firing cannon. MS. Self propelled gun fires. Seen from behind. Soldier on top looking through binoculars. LS. Several tanks dug in firing. RL XX LS. Explosions on hillside LS. High angle. Explosions in town. LS. Low angle. Explosions in town. MS. Self propelled gun firing, being loaded. LS. Large cannon firing. RL MS. Small cannon firing. RL MS. Large cannon firing. Very short. RL MS. Cannon firing. Camouflage netting above.  Flipped (writing on side is backward) CU. Low angle of soldier looking through binoculars. Camouflage netting above. flipped LS. High angle. Explosions in valley. MS. Crew fires cannon. LS. Sherman tank fires. Seen from behind LS. M-10 Tank Destroyers firing. RL CU. Cannon fires, seen from behind MS. Cannon fires, RL MS. Cannon fires, moves out of frame. RL MS. Tank fires, RL MS. High angle. Artillery crew fires cannon. CU. Soldier fires large cannon LS. Explosions in town CU. Soldier holding binoculars (dissolve to) CU. Soldiers synchronizing watches CU. One soldier’s watch LS. Soldiers advance through field toward town, seen from behind. MS. Soldiers move RL. LS. Soldiers reach trees, continuation of the one just before previous. They fall prone when explosion hits. MS. Closer shot of same LS. Soldiers in foxholes LS. Prone soldiers in field. LS. Soldiers in foxhole. Blast shakes camera LS. High angle, troops advance through large bushes downhill MS. Low angle of barbed wire. MS. Prone soldiers behind barbed wire. MS. Closer of same RL LS. Soldiers and barbed wire MS. Soldier with rifle behind barbed wire XX MS. Soldiers behind barbed wire. MS. Soldiers behind barbed wire. MS. Soldiers behind barbed wire. Post MS. Soldiers behind barbed wire. LS. Sherman tank moves out from behind building. RL. Pan left  (shortened) LS. Tank moving RL. LS. Tank moving RL in far distance.  Pan left LS-MS. Tank advancing on road straight at camera. Flipped LS. Switchback mountain road MS. Tank on road, moving RL toward camera. Pan left MS. Tank moving toward camera. LR MS Tank moving toward camera, RL. Pan left LS. Road into town CU. Tank moves past camera. LR, then away from camera. MS. Artillery fires LS. Valley and town. MS. Wrecked tank, turret blown off. LS. Turret less tank on hillside MS. Upside down tank MS. Upside down tank with tree branches behind MS. Carrying stretchers, LR MS. Low angle of tank moving in shadow flipped? LS. Night scene. Flares LS. Night gunfire and flares CU. Soldier with beard on stretcher. LR CU. Clean shaven soldier on stretcher. LR XX CU. Mustached soldier on stretcher. LR. CU. Another mustached soldier on stretcher. LR. (reel change) LS. Soldiers among rocks.flipped XX Shaky camera. Camera swerves around. CU. Dead soldier head toward camera MS. Dead soldier. LS. Dead soldier. Feet toward camera MS. Dead soldier. Valley in background XX Map XX MS. Soldiers firing, partly obscured by bushes. RL CU. Soldier firing rifle. Seen from behind. XX CU. Soldier firing automatic rifle. RL LS. Two soldiers throw hand grenades, left handed. MS. One soldier gets up from prone, throws grenade left handed XX MS. Soldiers zigzag past smoking hole XX MS. Closer. Soldiers look into hole MS. Soldiers look down into valley. LR LS. Soldiers looking down into valley. RL LS. Explosions in valley LS. Explosions on hillside LS. Explosions in bushy area LS. Explosions in valley CU. Explosion close to camera, camera shakes wildly LS. Soldiers moving RL LS. Soldiers firing from foxholes. RL LS. Prone soldiers firing RL LS. Prone soldier firing bazooka LS. Mortars fired from valley XX MS. Soldier with binoculars looking into valley XX LS. Explosion in middle distance LS. Explosions MS. Explosion behind dead fallen tree (used twice before) XX (about ten shots) CU. Soldiers get up to advance. RL MS. Soldiers in foxhole in the foreground Cu. Soldiers advance uphill. RL Repeat previous shot XXCU. Soldier getting up out of foxhole, RL (used twice) CU. Soldier getting out of foxhole.  Slightly further away than last shot. LS. Soldiers running through blasted buildings, RL. Pan left. Camera stops, blast. Continues pan LS. Soldiers advance through open field, away from camera, toward left XX LS. Soldiers coming out of foxholes XX LS. Soldiers advance toward camera. Head of dead soldier in foreground, on right side of frame. XXLS. Soldiers on ridge moving toward blasted building on left. LS. Blasted town seen through dead trees. Soldiers walk past camera screen left. XX MS. Crouching soldiers move forward, RL. Pan left MS. Soldiers coming toward camera, RL. Camera drops down when soldier does. MS. Soldiers walking toward camera, guns pointed toward left. XX LS soldier bends to look in basement.  RL CU. Soldier looking up. Low angle. RL. Pan Left LS. High angle. Soldiers moving RL MS. Soldier coming out of hole.  Gun in left hand, moves left MS. Soldiers moving RL One without helmet MS. Guy walking toward camera, looks at camera.  Other guys walk up. Flipped – move left LS. Explosion in valley. LS. Line of soldiers with stretcher. LR. Pan right LS. Soldiers with stretcher move toward camera. LS. Graveyard. Digging graves in foreground. Carrying US flag LR. Pan right to gravediggers MS. Shoveling dirt from grave. CU/MS. Very young gravedigger looks at camera, body lowered into grave MS. Nailing dog tags to headstones CU. Same MS. Guys lounging and talking CU. Guy with tommy gun.  Pan right to guy with tobacco in cheek. Camera stops, then continues CU. Guy smiling looking right CU. Line of guys, middle one is medic. CU. Two guys looking left. CU. Guy with cigar, tree behind. MS. Soldiers and peasants walking down rubble.  Toward left XX MS.  Peasants running out of cave. XX LS.  Old guy with cane, kid. RL XX LS. Soldiers and peasants walk through town. Shortened XX MS. Old guy with cane coming toward camera XX MS. Woman with baskets on head XX MS. Line of women with baskets on heads. XX MS. Woman with baggage on head XX LS. Woman with dresser on head. XX MS. Man leading cows. RL. Stops to look at camera MS. Cut. Shot continues XX LS. Woman with casket on head LS. Woman with casket, low angle XX MS. Man holding boy getting ration card MS. Soldier check boobytrap XX LS. Low angle. Women talking across ruined building. XX MS. Woman with lace tablecloth. Beam across top of frame LS. Woman raking dirt in shadow LS. Explosion – building demolition (boobytrap?) XX High angle, digging out bombed out building MS. Finding buried body MS. Grieving husband MS. Pulling out dead body. MS. Woman wipes away tears MS. Pulling out body CU. Grieving man CU. Grieving breastfeeding woman LS. Line of women holding babies. XX MS. Young woman and kids come out of cave. CU. Kids with spoon in his mouth. XX (no pan) MS. Woman with kids. Pushes kid away CU. Girl with strand of hair in face. MS. Three kids walk downhill street CU. Smiling girl MS. Two small kids hand in hand walk LR MS. Kid smiles at camera pan down right to his feet in big shoes walking through mud.  Pan right XX MS. Barefoot kid in hat walks toward camera XX CU. Girl with clothes in mouth. Pan left to boy XX CU. Two girls next to mother XX CU. Small kid against wall chewing XX CU. Baby girl held by mother, holds cookie XX CU. Girl holds baby. Pan left XX CU. Girl with headscarf. XX MS. Small boy in hat walks up street XX MS of peasants moving stones. (used in beginning of long version) MS. Women washing clothes in stream, jeeps in background XX MS. Over the shoulder of cobbler XX MS. Soldier on truck hands sack of flower to peasant. Pan right MS. High angle. Distributing flour MS. Distributing flour CU. Guy checking scales MS. High angle. Group gets flour MS. Distributing flour (repeat of earlier shot) CU. Women getting flour CU. Group getting flour. Woman puts sack on her head CU. Profile of man. Pans down to tattered clothes LS. Field with orchard in distance. LS. Woman and child in field LS. Man and oxen plowing field MS. Man and oxen plowing field CU. Man and oxen, move RL CU. Plow going through earth. Pan left LS. Procession of altar boys MS. Statue of St. Peter MS. Procession of altar boys CU. Of head of St. Peter Liberty bell - V All scenes in this picture were photographed within range of enemy small arms or artillery fire. For purposes of continuity a few of these scenes were shot before and after the actual battle of SAN PIETRO.