Documentaries Fill in Picture Sketched by WWII Films

Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” and Terrence Malick’s current “The Thin Red Line” have renewed interest in World War II documentaries, and several new video documentaries offer complex, compelling examinations of the global conflict.

Goldhil’s “WWII in Color” ($30) features some astonishing, declassified color footage--culled from archives throughout the world--that has been digitally restored. Among the highlights: Hitler and Eva Braun at the Eagle’s Nest compound; the D-day landing; the Memphis Belle B-17 bombing raid over Europe, which was directed by William Wyler; and generally pristine clips of practically every major battle on both the Pacific and European fronts. The languid, colorless narration is the only downside to this two-tape set. Parents might not want their children to view the tape because the footage contains several harrowing scenes of carnage and destruction.

MPI’s evocative 1996 ABC News documentary “Turning Point at Normandy: The Soldier’s Story” ($20) presents a comprehensive history of the origins and planning of D-day, the largest naval bombardment in history, which took place June 6, 1944, on a 50-mile stretch of beach called Normandy. Besides the graphic footage, the documentary also features interviews with soldiers who were on both sides of the battle line.

The Discovery Channel Video and BMG Video just released three World War II documentaries ($15) that first aired on the Discovery Channel’s popular “Wings” series: “The Valiant Few,” “Target Berlin” and “Firestorm in Dresden.”

“The Valiant Few” pays tribute to the brave aviators, especially those pilots who flew the British Spitfires, and shows how the planes’ new radar technology was used in surprise counterattacks. The tape also features German and British pilots recounting little-known facts about their missions.

“Target Berlin” examines the P-51 Mustang effort to squash Germany’s military strength and the people’s will. Besides illustrating the Allies’ bombing strategy, the documentary also features German veterans discussing their experiences fighting the Mustangs.

“Firestorm in Dresden” chronicles the dramatic stories of the surviving members of the 100th Bomb Group and their deadly, historic B-17 raid on Dresden.

New from National Geographic Home Video is the TV special “Untold Stories of World War II” ($20), which boasts a vast array of seldom-before-seen footage. Stories include how a group of young men in Norway helped to thwart Hitler’s efforts to make the atom bomb, and how Japanese kamikaze pilots created mayhem on American battleships and cruisers with their suicide missions. The most interesting story is how the American Navy detected Japanese mini-submarines off the coast of Hawaii on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, not long before the attack on Pearl Harbor.