SAN PIETRO INFINE
The original town of San Pietro Infine was completely destroyed and the modern San Pietro was built down in the valley. What remains now is a reminder and testimony of the ravages of war. San Pietro museum, located near the ruins of the original town, is being stocked and arranged and is going to be inaugurated shortly. The great film director John Huston, in 1943 was in the site of the battle to document the italian campaign. He realized a documentary film about the battle of San Pietro Infine during World War II. The film is unflinching in its realism (showing people dying on the field) and was held up from being shown to the public by the United States Army. Huston quickly became unpopular with the Army, not only for the film but also for his response to the accusation that the film was anti-war. Huston responded that if he ever made a pro-war film, he should be shot. General George Marshall came to the film's defense, stating that because of the film's gritty realism, it would make a good training film; subsequently the film was used for that purpose. Huston was no longer considered a pariah; he was decorated and made an honorary major. In 1991, The Battle of San Pietro was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". In this film you can see real scenes shot during those terrible days.
