Exploring the life-altering experiences of five prominent Hollywood filmmakers who chose to enlist & serve in the Second World War, Five Came Back profiles the war-time contributions of these luminaries and analyses how they were transformed by the horrors they witnessed while filming propaganda material for American military or collecting irrefutable evidence of war crimes, and how the hundreds of hours of footages they shot played an essential role in their approach to storytelling in their post-war lives.
The documentary series chronicles the journey of Frank Capra, William Wyler, John Huston, George Stevens & John Ford behind enemy lines, and is aided by valuable commentaries from modern filmmakers who expertly break down their lives, careers & distinct cinematic voice in order to provide necessary insights into their respective films before, during & after the war. Downright engrossing & powerfully gripping, this 3-part series is a testament to the ability of cinema to stimulate all kinds of emotions and how it can be used or abused for good or evil.
Though their experience in the war may seem simpler when compared to the actual sacrifices that were made on the front lines, Five Came Back shows how even they couldn't escape the trauma brought upon by the overwhelming destruction & brutal, unfathomable savagery captured by their cameras. There are raw footages & there are re-enactments but the essence & human cost of warfare is well-preserved even in the latter case. While it doesn't shy away from highlighting their human flaws, the series is mostly a celebration of their legacies and the groundbreaking classics they crafted after returning to Hollywood. An absolute must for film enthusiasts.
