The Story of G.I. Joe – Ignite Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1945
Director: William A. Wellman
Writers: Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder
Cast: Burgess Meredith, Robert Mitchum, Freddie Steele, Wally Cassell, Jimmy Lloyd, John R. Reilly, William Murphy

Release Date: December 10th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 109 Minutes 31 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $34.95

"Embark on an unforgettable journey through the harrowing yet heartwarming landscapes of WWII with The Story of G.I. Joe. Directed by William A. Wellman and based on the true-life experiences of renowned war correspondent and columnist Ernie Pyle, this cinematic masterpiece immerses you in the camaraderie, courage, and sacrifices of the brave soldiers of the Company C, 18th Infantry.." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "The Story of G.I. Joe (1945) was photochemically restored in 1999 by the Academy Film Archive with funding provided by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Golden Globe Foundation and The Film Foundation. A 2K scane was created from the photochemically restored element."

The Story of G.I. Joe comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.1 GB

Feature: 29.9 GB

Though the bulk of this transfer looks great, the last reel uses a lesser 16mm source. Image clarity is solid, contrast and black levels are strong, there are no issues with compression, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. Though dialog comes through clearly and everything sounds balanced, range-wise, things sound limited.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (34 images - stills/lobby cards/posters/other promotional materials), original nitrate trailer (2 minutes 32 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a re-construction of the original 1945 trailer (2 minutes 55 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a new featurette on the restoration by film restoration supervisor Greg Kimble titled The Story of The Story of G.I. Joe (7 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Bill Wellman Jr. (16 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and a video essay by author and filmmaker Scout Tafoya 'Here he lies where he longed to be...' Wild Bill's Dog Face Blues (16 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

William A. Wellman directed The Story of G.I. Joe. He is also known for directing Wings, The Public Enemy, Nothing Scared, and The Ox-Bow Incident.

The Story of G.I. Joe is based on journalist and war correspondent Ernie Pyle’s reports from North Africa and Italy. The Story of G.I. Joe is a tribute to the American infantryman (aka G.I. Joe) of C Company, 18th Infantry, who saw combat in Tunisia and Italy. Though some of the cast are made-up actors, 150 actual soldiers appeared in The Story of G.I. Joe. Besides helping actors prepare for their roles, many of the soldiers were given dialog.

The Story of G.I. Joe has a documentary-in-the moment vibe, which greatly enhances its realism. The characters are the focal point, and the performances are all outstanding. Though Burgess Meredith (Rocky) is perfect in the role of Ernie Pyle, it is Robert Mitchum’s (The Night of the Hunter) portrayal of Lt. Walker that steals the show. This would be a breakout role for Robert Mitchum in which he would receive his one and only Oscar nomination.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where The Story of G.I. Joe does not excel. The solid production design, blown-out buildings, enhances authenticity, and the battle sequences are exemplary. Also, William A. Wellman's direction is never showy; he lets the characters take center stage. Ultimately, The Story of G.I. Joe is a powerful and unflinching portrayal of war.

The Story of G.I. Joe gets an excellent release from Ignite Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer