G.I. Joe (1945) Ignite Films Blu-ray Review

Actors: Burgess Meredith, Robert Mitchum, Freddie Steele, Wally Cassell, Jimmy Lloyd, John R. Reilly and William Murphy Directed by William A. Wellman

William A. Wellman was a writer, producer and director. During his career he directed every genre of cinema during his career. He served in the military during World War I. Perhaps that was the reason he directed so many war films during his career.

In an interesting piece of cinema trivia William A. Wellman is the director of the first film to win the Academy Award for best picture. And that film just happens to be a war picture 1927's Wings.

William A. Wellman was nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Director Oscars for A Star Is Born (1937), Battleground (1949), and The High and the Mighty (1954) and he won an Oscar for Best Original Story for A Star Is Born.

In 1945 William A. Wellman directed The Story of G.I. Joe. Now for the 80th anniversary of this films original theatrical release Ignite Films have taken a restored version of this film and released it on Blu-ray for the first time ever!

Synopsis: Through the lens of Pulitzer-winning Ernie Pyle (Burgess Meredith), witness the everyday grit and bravery of the foot soldier as they navigate the perils of combat in the Italian campaign. Joining him is the incomparable Robert Mitchum in his breakthrough role as Lieutenant Walker, whose leadership and unwavering dedication to his men inspire hope amidst the chaos of war.

This film is not just a Hollywood script, no way! This film is based on the true-life experiences of the renowned war correspondent and columnist Ernie Pyle. Burgess Meredith and Robert Mitchum really bring wonderful performances to this piece of cinema. William A. Wellman really knows how to shoot a war picture. He brings true grit and realism to his film so that they feel like a documentary instead of a Hollywood production.

The Story of G.I. Joe has been transferred to Blu-ray in 1080p and is presented in the original 1.33:1 full frame. The audio track is an LPCM 1.0 mono. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Ignite Films did not just throw a print on a Blu-ray, not for this 80th anniversary edition. The film has been lovingly restored! The black and white picture is crisp and clean. There are no signs of damage to this print that I could see while screening this film. But a great looking restoration is not all this Blu-ray has going for it. Ignite Films added some cool bonus features, take a look at what is included.

Bonus Materials

* 'Here he lies where he longed to be...' Wild Bill's Dog Face Blues A new video essay by author and filmmaker Scout Tafoya

* New interview with Bill Wellman Jr.

* 'The Story of The Story of G.I. Joe', a new featurette on the restoration by film restoration supervisor Greg Kimble

* Original nitrate trailer

* Re-construction of the original 1945 trailer

* Photo gallery with original press book pages and stills

I love the featurette on the restoration. It really shows you how much work went into making this film look as great as it does. Also, the interview with Bill Wellman Jr. the son of William A. Wellman is a nice touch as well as the essay. Finally, I think the re-construction of the 1945 trailer really is awesome.

Admittedly war films are not everyone's cup of tea, but this is a wonderful drama. With amazing performances and deserves to be experiences. And there is no better way to see it than on this new Blu-ray edition. So, if you would like to see The Story of G.I. Joe head over to MVD Shop or Amazon and order your copy today!