Town square; monument & signs

George Stevens (December 18, 1904 – March 8, 1975) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer. During World War II, Stevens joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps and headed a film unit from 1943 to 1946 under General Eisenhower. His unit shot footage documenting D-Day — including the only Allied European Front color film of the war — the liberation of Paris and the meeting of American and Soviet forces at the Elbe River, as well as horrific scenes from the Duben labor camp and the Dachau concentration camp. Stevens also helped prepare the Duben and Dachau footage and other material for presentation during the Nuremberg Trials. In 2008, his footage was entered into the U.S. National Film Registry by the Librarian of Congress as an "essential visual record" of World War II. The Special Coverage Unit (SPECOU) was placed under the control of the Supreme Headquarters' Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF). The SPECOU consists of 45 people: writers like Ivan Moffat, William Saroyan and Irwin Shaw; cameramen like Dick Hoar, Ken Marthey, William Mellor, Jack Muth; sound operators as Bill Hamilton, who comes from Columbia, assistant directors, as Holly Morse, who has worked with Hal Roach. Sign: "Rn 3 Chateau Thierry Aisne." Stevens and man walk across town square to monument. CU of flowers on monument. "Maison de L'amitie Franco-Americaine." Pan from Stevens and Bill Hamilton to bridge with vehicles crossing it. Shot of horse drawn carriage crossing bridge. Rectangular monument/building with two statues on side. Sign reads: "This monument has been erected by the United States of America to commemorate services of her troops and those of France who fought in this region during the World War. It stands as a lasting symbol of the friendship and cooperation of the French and American armies." Stevens and others inspect monument. Pan from town to valley. Sign "time will not dim the glory of their deeds." CU, "1st Division, 2nd Division, 3rd Division," etc. carved in stone. Over men's shoulders shooting toward town in valley beyond monument. "Of the 310,000 American soldiers who fought 67,000 were casualties." Pan of town with river in BG. Insert sign "Bellau." Sign in English pointing left "Marne River 9 miles (to left), Reims 45 miles (to right)."