A Letter from Ulster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids A Letter from Ulster |
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Title card
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| Directed by | Brian Desmond Hurst |
| Produced by | William MacQuitty |
| Written by | Shaun Terence Young |
| Music by | William Alwyn |
| Cinematography | H. E. Fowle |
| Editing by | Donald Ginsberg |
| Studio | Crown Film Unit |
| Distributed by | Ministry of Information |
| Release date(s) | 1942 |
| Running time | 33 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
A Letter from Ulster is a 1942 documentary film. It was made by Brian Desmond Hurst, a director from Ulster (Northern Ireland). His friend, Terence Young, wrote the script. Another Ulsterman, William MacQuitty, was the assistant director.
The film's main goal was to show a good relationship. It highlighted the friendship between the people of Northern Ireland and over 100,000 US troops. These American soldiers were based in Northern Ireland during World War II. William Alwyn created the music for the film.
Contents
About "A Letter from Ulster"
Why Was the Film Made?
In 1942, many US troops were in Northern Ireland. Some people were trying to cause problems between the soldiers and local people. German spies in Dublin were spreading false information.
The British government wanted to stop this. They asked Brian Desmond Hurst to make a film. Its simple job was to show that everyone was getting along well.
What Happens in the Film?
The film follows American soldiers from the US Army 34th Infantry Division. We see them training for war. We also see them enjoying the local hospitality.
Two soldiers write letters home about their experiences. They take a tour of their new temporary home in a small jeep. They visit famous places like St Mary's Church in Belfast. They also see Gray Printers in Strabane and Carrickfergus Castle. The soldiers even visit Roaring Meg on Derry's walls.
They also travel by train. At one point, they accidentally cross the border into the South of Ireland. They are politely turned back. We also see them in their barracks at Tynan Abbey. They practice tank and artillery exercises. You can see the beautiful Sperrins mountains in some scenes.
Real Soldiers in the Film
The artillery scenes show men from the 151st Field Artillery. These soldiers were from Minnesota. They fired the first artillery shell for US Forces in Europe. This happened in the Sperrins. The soldiers you see in the film went on to fight in very tough battles. These included Anzio and Monte Cassino.
The film also features a short appearance by Bruce Bairnsfather. He was a famous cartoonist. He created the character 'Old Bill' during World War I. He was working with the US Army at the time. His cartoons later appeared in a book called Jeeps and Jests. This book even includes a cartoon of Brian Desmond Hurst filming A Letter From Ulster.
Revisiting the Film Today
In 2011, Allan Esler Smith made a new documentary. He is a relative and biographer of Brian Desmond Hurst. This new film is called Revisiting A Letter From Ulster. It shows "then and now" footage. It also retraces the steps of the 34th Infantry Division soldiers.
This documentary first showed at the Aspects Festival in Ireland. It played for five days alongside the original A Letter From Ulster. You can now watch it online.
In 2012, the Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum screened the film. This was to mark 70 years since US troops arrived in Northern Ireland. The museum showed the film throughout September and October. It supported their ongoing exhibition about US troops in Northern Ireland during World War II.
Articles and books
- Revisiting A Letter From Ulster by Allan Esler Smith. Published by Northern Ireland War Memorial on September 6, 2012.
- Theirs is the Glory: Arnhem, Hurst and Conflict on Film. This book focuses on Hurst's film about the Battle of Arnhem. It also tells his life story. It covers his experiences in World War I. The book also looks at nine of his other films about conflict. This includes A Letter from Ulster.
