Italian Prisoners In The United States

Italian Prisoners In The United States United Films Presents for Office of War Information LS barracks in US army camp for prisoners of war. Arriving at camp & greeted by Italian w/ kisses on both cheeks, past guard tower. Sitting in w/ commanding officer who speaks (SOF) thru translator, told he will be given good treatment & freedom of speech. POW speaks in Italian, not translated. 10:18:02 Shown around camp, man making map of Italy, “beautifying grounds”; “self-taught painter”; barber shop where haircut by Italian. Recreation hall, men read, listen to radio, play checkers, write letters. 10:19:14 Commissary w/ Italian cooks preparing noodles, rolling dough, cutting. Into meat locker, carrying & cooking. “Even though meat is rationed to American civilians, the prisoners have meat at least once a day except Fridays.” Men march into mess hall, sit at wooden benches, eat & talk, laugh & joke. Feeding dog outside on bench; several talk (SOF) into microphone to send messages back home, introducing themselves & where from. Playing boccie ball (bowling) outdoors; boxing as others watch, applaud. Play volleyball. 10:23:34 Commandant at mic, men listening to interpreter. Narrator says asking for volunteers to work on neighboring farms & will receive an extra 80 cents a day. Picking cotton & peanuts. 10:24:46 POWs attending Catholic Mass outside barracks, conducted by Italian speaking American Army chaplain, receive sacrament. 10:25:35 Men receiving visitors at gate; preparing backdrop for theater production. SOF man talking to men before leading group singing “roll out the barrel” in Italian. Group meeting w/ American officers, translated, about wanting things for camp: lights, privacy. 10:27:12 Outdoor stage & curtain opens on amateur theater production & singing in Italian; comedy; musical numbers. “a typical day in the lives of Italian prisoners in the United States.” WWII Military Propaganda; Homefront; American South; Oddities;1943; 1940s; WW2; Religion;