Saturday, January 21, 2017

G.I. John Huston


"If I ever make a film that is pro-war. take me out and shoot me."  - director John Huston

John Huston was commissioned by the United States ARMY, during his military service, to make a film. He created a film about shell-shock that he titled, 'Let There Be Light' in 1946 using real soldiers and a musical score (i.e. a hybrid documentary). The film was made and pulled multiple times by the military police whenever Huston attempted to screen the film (once military police even pulled it from a screening at the MoMA !) because the ARMY was horrified by how Huston portrayed the effects of war on soldiers. It was NOT until 1981 that Huston was able to screen his film to the general public without having any military interference. 'Let There Be Light' is a film that directly observes military hospitalizations of soldiers who have endured post traumatic stress disorder caused by the experiences and things that they saw during military service. The film was later re-done (white washed) using actors and they called it 'Shades of Gray.' bye.



John Huston's father narrated this film for his son.