THE STORY OF GI JOE Enhanced Restoration of the 1945 WWII classic is coming to Blu-ray and DVD July 25

STARRING ROBERT MITCHUM IN HIS ACADEMY-AWARD® NOMINATED PERFORMANCE AND BURGESS MEREDITH

PRE-ORDERS FOR THE STUNNING HD BLU-RAY AND DVD DISCS ARE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT IGNITE-FILMS.COM AHEAD OF THE OFFICIAL RELEASE ON JULY 25, 2024

“The Story of G.I. Joe is a masterwork whose sum is far greater than its modest parts.” – Library of Congress

The Ignite Films 2024 enhanced restoration of Director William A. Wellman’s 1945 classic WWII war film, THE STORY OF G.I. JOE starring Robert Mitchum and Burgess Meredith, will be released on HD Blu-ray and DVD on July 25, 2024. The 2024 enhanced restoration, spearheaded by film restoration supervisor Greg Kimble, also includes a full restoration of the audio by John Polito of Audio Mechanics.

Pre-orders for the Blu-ray and DVD are available exclusively at Ignite-Films.com, ahead of the upcoming July 25 release, with a LIMITED EDITION, numbered 16″x20″ poster of the cover art included free for the first 250 orders, announced Jan Willem Bosman Jansen, CEO and Founder of Ignite Films. The Story of G.I. Joe is distributed by Ignite Films and Eagle Rock Pictures.

Last month, Ignite Films, which released the 2023 critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning* 4K restoration of the 1953 sci-fi classic INVADERS FROM MARS, dropped the reconstructed 1945 trailer and the new poster for its next release, the 1945 WWII classic THE STORY OF G.I. JOE. The long-lost trailer, which has never been online before, in any condition, has been meticulously reconstructed by Ignite Films using the severely damaged 1945 original nitrate trailer provided by the Library of Congress.

“We at Ignite Films consider the film to be of such importance that ‘The Story of G.I. Joe’ necessitated a release right now on the occasion of the 80^th Anniversary of the end of Second World War. The potent message of the film deals with everyday life and the sacrifices of the brave soldiers, and is as relevant in today’s world as it was in 1945, and is no different in intensity. That is the primary reason to release this film now. ‘The Story of G.I. Joe’ is a true classic which has been undervalued for years,” said Jan Willem Bosman Jansen, CEO and Founder of Ignite Films.

An unforgettable journey through the harrowing yet heartwarming landscapes of WWII, THE STORY OF G.I. JOE is based on the true-life experiences of renowned war correspondent and columnist Ernie Pyle. This cinematic masterpiece immerses audiences in the camaraderie, courage, and sacrifices of the brave soldiers of, Company C, 18th Infantry, 150 of whom played extras in the film.

Through the lens of Pulitzer-winning Pyle, portrayed with unparalleled depth by 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.

THE STORY OF G.I. JOE portrays the camaraderie and bond between soldiers, a timeless tribute to unsung heroes who fought and bled for freedom. Experience the raw emotion and gritty realism of this war drama, beautifully restored in high definition. It is more than a movie; it is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit.

“What makes The Story of G.I. Joe different from other war movies is that it was directed by Bill Wellman with an eye towards keeping it focused on the day-to-day dilemma of the ordinary combat soldier. It specifically deglamorized war despite being made in an era, 1945, when Hollywood was cranking out a lot of these friendly propaganda heroic films with John Wayne leading the charge — which were great entertainment and good for the home front morale, but not particularly realistic about what the troops had to cope with. The Story of G.I. Joe dealt with this. They used over 150 actual brave soldiers as background actors. The movie holds up so well because it was authentic, and it was deliberately made that way,” said Alan K. Rode, writer/historian, (who also provided audio commentary on the Blu-ray Bonus materials)

The film is based on by Ernie Pyle’s books Here Is Your War (New York, 1943) and Brave Men (New York, 1944).

Wellman’s melancholy study of soldiers would not immediately become a popular form of expression in war films, but his soulful treatment of life on the front lines, in which real combat soldiers mingled freely with actors, forming an easy camaraderie, would become an inextricable part of cinematic language. The Story of G.I. Joe would not become a model for war films for quite some time, but eventually its poetic form would become more popular than the more gung-ho patriotic variety.

The Ignite Films’ release coincides with the 80^th Anniversary of the end of WWII and commemorates the upcoming 80^th Anniversary of the film’s release. Ernie Pyle and many of the 150 brave soldiers from Company C, 18th Infantry, who played extras in The Story of G.I. Joe died on April 17, 1945, in Ie Shima (n.k.a. Iejima), a small island northwest of Okinawa, two months before the film’s release.

The Academy® Film Archive preserved the film in 2000. In 2009, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. For educational purposes, Ignite Films will provide both institutions with the new 2024 enhanced version for their film preservation archives.

Academy Award® nominations:

Best Supporting Actor – Robert Mitchum

Best Original Song – Ann Ronell for “Linda”

Best Score – Louis Applebaum and Ann Ronell

Best Screenplay – Leopold Atlas, Guy Endore, and Philip Stevenson

Blu-ray comes with a slipcover. Bonus Features come on the Blu-ray and the DVD:

Blu-ray slipcover
“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
Audio commentary by Alan K. Rode
Original nitrate trailer
Reconstruction of the original 1945 trailer
Photo gallery with original press book pages and stills

Credits:

THE STORY OF G.I. JOE

Starring Robert Mitchum Burgess Meredith

With Freddie Steele Wally Cassell Jimmy Lloyd John R. Reilly Bill Murphy

and the Sicily and Italy Combat Veterans of the Campaigns in Africa

Screenplay by Leopold Atlas Guy Endore Philip Stevenson

Edited by Otho Lovering Cinematography by Russel Metty A.S.C.

Produced by Lester Cowan

Directed by William A. Wellman

*The 4K restoration and release of Ignite Films’ Invaders From Mars was honored with the 2024 SATURN Award® for Best Classic Film Home Media Release. The release also won the Best Rediscovery of a Forgotten Film from the Il Cinema Ritrovato DVD Awards ®2023 and the Hollywood Professional Association’s Inaugural Jury Award® for Outstanding Achievement in Restoration.

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Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!