1943 - REPORT FROM THE ALEUTIANS, documentary about the Army Air Force is fascinating stuff

During World War II, the United States military takes part in raids on the island of Kiska from their base on Adak island in the Aleutians.  John Huston films and narrates the daily routine of these soldiers.

This is absorbing stuff filmed in color.  The Aleutian islands look like no place anyone wants to be.  Cold and probably blowing constantly, the soldiers all look pretty miserable.  The military was engaged in bombing the island of Kiska which was held by the Japanese for a while.  The Japanese eventually left Kiska which turned out to have absolutely no military value for either side. 

Report From the Aleutians focuses on the repetition and weariness of military life in a remote region of the war.  Towards the end of the film, the Army Air Corp participates in a bombing raid over Kiska, even that is boring.  The flight is an hour out and an hour back, lots of tedium probably followed by sheer terror for about 5 or 10 minutes during the actual bombing run. 

That John Huston was able to put together an interesting film out of what is essentially soldiers standing around freezing their butts off in Alaska is a tribute to his skill as a filmmaker and story teller. 

47 minutes, written by an uncredited John Huston.