The Story of G.I. Joe – The World War II classic gets a new Blu-ray release

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.

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.

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 80th 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.

“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 Ernie Pyle’s books Here Is Your War (New York, 1943) and Brave Men (New York, 1944).

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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 80th Anniversary of the end of WWII and commemorates the upcoming 80th 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