World War II War Film 19 Firepower Documentary ” How Good is A Gun? “
An official War Department film produced by the United States Army Signal Corps during WWII, “How Good Is A Gun?” opens with a scene from “a valley where Nazis rule. A valley of death.” As the camera pans across the ruins of what was once a town, the narrator says that no rocket or “mysterious ray” destroyed this place. “Just firepower — firepower of American war production … fighting to save this town and every town from the swastika.” American infantrymen are shown sharing cigarettes at mark 01:08 after the fight as dubbed audio explains how the American people “have a right to know how good the guns are so they keep making them good” and the narrator adds near mark 02:00 that “superior firepower saves lives.” At 2:21, soldiers are seen watching a movie about firepower. The film continues as we see soldier firing a light carbine, an M1 Garand (“which can make a leaky bucket out of any sniper’s head”), and a Browning Automatic Rifle as they cut through trees and cement walls, as well as firing bazookas, 60 mm and 81 mm mortars that can reach Nazi soldiers hiding two miles away, and anti-tank guns. We see the 105 mm Howitzer M3 in use starting at mark 05:15, followed by the 155 mm Long Tom field gun. At mark 06:06 the camera follows troops out of the training camp and into the battle as we see the weapons in action. Sherman tanks roll past at mark 07:15 as they advance toward the Germans, and the narrator’s enthusiasm cannot be contained as he introduces the 240 mm Howitzer M1 (aka the Black Dragon) at mark 08:15. Tanks and tank destroyers are shown moving into a valley as shells fly and the Allies finally enter the town at mark 11:46, carrying minesweepers and M1903 Springfield rifles “to flush the snipers.” The fruits of the Allied efforts are shown at mark 12:25, as grateful residents emerge from caves and hideouts and we’re reminded that “the terror of our shells have driven out the greater terror — slavery and the German invader.”