More Details

Summary:

The Silent Soldier and the Portrait is a documentary about one of the last living survivors of a major World War II military tragedy and two secrets that he kept for decades. The first was a military secret. On Christmas Eve, 1944, John Suter Waller was a 19-year-old soldier, fresh out of boot camp, on his way to join in the Battle of the Bulge, when his troop ship was sunk by a German U-boat. Over 800 US military personnel died that night in the icy waters of the English Channel. Fearing the effect of the news on morale back home, the military instructed the survivors not to talk about it. Not even to their families. So John Waller kept that secret. Seven decades passed before his family or his friends knew that he was a man who had been given a second chance in life - by an odd twist of fate. John Waller kept another secret as well -- one that was a bit more complicated. It involved what the family called a "purloined" French portrait, but it came with a backstory that involved grenades and a safe. With an impressive bit of detective work, and little luck, producer Garland Waller, John Waller's daughter, recently discovered both secrets as she was helping him move. The story of the Leopoldville and the portrait set both father and daughter on a journey that became the essence of the documentary. Shot primarily in England and France, this film is by turns deeply moving and warmly funny. Father and daughter retrace the journey of the young soldier headed to war, and in so doing, find a measure peace along the way. Ultimately, this is a story about secrets and second chances.

Contributors:

Waller, Garland , director, producer, narrator

Nolan, Barry, 1947- , director

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

In English.

Subjects:

Leopoldville (Ship)

World War, 1939-1945 — Naval operations, American

World War, 1939-1945 — Naval operations, German

World War, 1939-1945 — Personal narratives, American

World War, 1939-1945 — Destruction and pillage

Art — Provenance

World War (1939-1945)

1939-1945

Military operations, Naval — German

Destruction and pillage

Art

Military operations, Naval — American

Genres:

Documentary films

Online media

Internet videos

Personal narratives — American

General Notes:

Title from resource description page (viewed April 25, 2019).
Streaming media.
Restricted to the University of North Texas System.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1 video file (65 mins.))

Digital Characteristics:

video file

Call Numbers:

Online Video

OCLC Numbers:

1101013128

Other Control Numbers:

4064693 (source: VaAlASP)
[Unknown Type]: ASP4064693/avon