Legendary American Generals tells the stories of five outstanding commanders who literally made history. Produced by the US Army Signal Corps using dramatic archival footage, the films focus on their service during World War 2, but also provide fascinating biographical info showing how their life experiences made them the accomplished leaders they became.

General Dwight D Eisenhower (1955, 30:00 B&W) Narrated by Raymond Massey with an introduction by Oscar winner & World War 2 vet, Walter Mathau. After graduating from West point in 1915, "Ike" didn't see combat in World War I, though he gained valuable experience in training & command in the new Tank Corps. Between the Wars, his intellect and organizational skills led to a series of commands & promotions, eventually to War Plans under Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall, who knew a fine officer when he saw one. On June 23, 1942, he was made Commanding General, European Theater of Operations. In November 1942, he was also appointed Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force of the North African Theater of Operations and In February 1943, his authority was extended as commander of AFHQ to include the British Eighth Army, During the successful campaign, he gained invaluable experience in strategy and tactics as well as managing a diverse group of often contentious subordinates. In December 1943 Ike was made Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. He resumed command of ETOUSA and the following month was made the Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) He was charged with planning and carrying out the Normandy Invasion in June 1944, the liberation of Western Europe and the invasion of Germany. In December 20, 1944, he was promoted to General of the Army, equivalent to the rank of Field Marshal. In addition to strategic planning & command Ike did a remarkable job of managing the fractious coalition of nations and personalities that made up the Allied Forces in Europe, one of his greatest achievements. After the War, Eisenhower was made Military Governor of the U.S. Occupation Zone in Germany. In November 1945 he replaced Marshall as Chief of Staff of the Army. In 1948, Eisenhower became President of Columbia University In 1952 Ike returned to service as Supreme Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In 1952 he successfully ran for the Office of President of the United States

George S Patton (1955, 30:00 B&W) Narrated by Ronald Reagan. Patton graduated from West Point in 1909. He first saw action during the Pancho Villa Expedition in Mexico in 1916, the first US military action using motor vehicles. He ljoined the new US Tank Corps of the AEF in World War I. He commanded the U.S. tank school in France before being wounded in action. Between the wars, Patton was a key figure in developing the principles of armored warfare. Rising through the ranks, he commanded the U.S. 2nd Armored Division at the U.S. entry into World War II. Under Eisenhower, Patton helped plan the invasion of French North Africa in Operation Torch in the summer of 1942, commanding the Western Task Force of 33,000 men in 100 ships in the Casablanca landings. In the North African Campaign, he was an effective commander, rapidly revitalizing the demoralized 2nd Corps. He commanded the Seventh Army during the Invasion of Sicily, the first allied commander to reach Messina. He controversially slapped two shell-shocked soldiers and was temporarily removed from field command for other duties including “Operation Fortitude” the disinformation campaign before D-Day. Patton commanded the Third Army after the invasion which he led in a lightning armored strike across France. After taking the fortress city of Metz , his 3rd Army pivoted north to relieve Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge and he then advanced his army deep into Germany & Czechoslovakia by the end of the war. Patton then became the military governor of Bavaria, and later commanded the Fifteenth Army. He died following an automobile accident on December 21, 1945.

* Douglas MacArthur (1955 30:00 B&W) Narrated by Walter Cronkite with an introduction by Walter Mathau. MacArthur graduated from West Point top of his class of 1903. During the 1914 occupation of Veracruz, he he was nominated for the Medal of Honor. In 1917 during World War 1, he was promoted from major to colonel and became chief of staff of the 42nd (Rainbow) Division. In the fighting in France, he rose to the rank of brigadier general commanding the the 84th Infantry Brigade, was again nominated for a Medal of Honor, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross twice & the Silver Star seven times. From 1919 to 1922, her served as Superintendent of West Point. His next duty was as chief U.S. Military adviser in the Philippines in1925, the Army's youngest major general. In 1930 he became Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He retired in 1937, becoming an unofficial adviser to the Philippine government. With war looming, MacArthur was recalled to active duty in July 1941 as commander of United States Army Forces in the Far East. Catastrophes followed, starting with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 8 December 1941, followed by their invasion of the Philippines. MacArthur's outnumbered forces withdrew to Bataan, holding out until May 1942. In March, he & his staff left Corregidor in PT boats, escaping to Australia, where he became Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area. He was awarded the Medal of Honor. After two years of intensive fighting characterized by a series of strategically brilliant campaigns, starting in New Guinea, he fulfilled his promise to return & liberate the Philippines. He accepted Japan's surrender on 2 September 1945 in Tokyo Bay. He led the occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1951, implementing major economic, social and political reforms. In the Korean War, he was initially Commander United Nations Forces until he was removed by President Truman in 1951, after a series of disputes over the overall strategic direction of the war.

*Joseph W Stilwell (1960, 27:00, B&W) Narrated by Alexander Scourby. This is the life of "Viniger Joe" Stilwell, one of the most brilliant, hardest driving, and at times most difficult to manage and work with Allied commanders in World War 2. Criticized for the high casualties often sustained by troops under his command and his battles with Chiang Kai-Shek, Claire Chennault and British commanders, there is no question he got results under extremely difficult circumstances, using meager resources. The film focus on the critical role he played as commander of field operations in the CBI during pivotal fighting in 1943-44. Produced by the US Army after the war, the film tends to gloss over Stilwell's faults and the controversies surrounding him, but it's still a very interesting pictorial record of his life.

* Omar N Bradley (1955 30:00 B&W) Bradley graduated from West Point in 1915, but did nor see action in World War i. Between the Wars, he held a wide variety of Army staff & training duties that impressed his superiors. In 1936, Bradley was promoted to Lt. Col & assigned to the War Department, serving directly under George Marshall, Army Chief of Staff. At the start of World War II, Bradley was commandant of the U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia,& then led the 82nd and 28th infantry divisions. After the disaster at Kasserine Pass, he was given II Corps in the North African campaign, under Patton. He took Bizerte, Tunisia, in May 1943. Bradley then led his forces in the Sicilian invasion & campaign. Bradley was transferred to Great Britain & given command of the U.S. First Army in 1944. He took part in planning the invasion of France. In June 1944, under Montgomery, he commanded 1^st Army in the D-Day landings and into France. In August, he was made commander of Twelfth Army Group: the First, Third, Ninth, and Fifteenth armies, the largest force placed under an American group commander, campaigning successfully in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Czechoslovakia until the German surrender in May, 1945. Bradley then returned to the US as Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs (1945–47) & then as Army Chief of Staff (1948–49). After the unification of the US armed forces, he was made the first Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1949 & promoted to General of the Army. He retired in 1953.