Episode 8 - “Mare Nostrum”

Summary

EP8 takes place in and around the Mediterranean, from Italy's mid-1940 entry into the war until late 1942. The Italians are more in evidence here than Axis partner Germany, with combat in the skies, in Greece and North Africa, and at sea. The Allies’ poor showing in Crete against German paratroops is unmentioned, though EP8 in its first-completed form gave Crete considerable coverage.

Bennett's recording date for his EP8 score was an important stepping-stone in the series’ completion. NBC's original 1951 contract with the US Navy (see chapter 1) had stipulated that Victory broadcasts couldn't begin until fifteen of the twenty-six programs were completed; the all-important fifteenth installment turned out to be EP8. If the US Navy was indeed holding NBC to their agreement, Bennett's recording session on 22 October 1952 would leave four days to mix the final soundtrack and unite it with the assembled film footage before EP1 would be cleared to air on 26 October.

EP8 opens with a flurry, Mussolini having announced Italy's declaration of war against France and Great Britain on 10 June 1940. We see his immediate offensive move at the French Border (some historians’ “Battle of the Alps”) while hearing an “Italian” Bennett march at 1:14 [A]. The voice of President Roosevelt follows with words of alarm, and the Salomon-Hanser narration sets the stage: “Mussolini, founder of fascism, self-appointed high priest of war, draws the saber he has long been rattling on the sidelines. With France defeated and England tottering, he commits the Italian empire to support his personal pact of steel with Hitler.”

Italy's invasion of Greece in late October 1940 follows around 2:25. Bennett's accompaniment at 2:41 is a lively ¾ folk dance [B], no actual combat being shown prior to 3:33. England, pledging its support, brings aid from North Africa at 3:44, accompanied briefly by the first “British” music in EP8, just before Axis planes appear: “Across the Mediterranean, the hard-pressed British rush troops and supplies to the embattled Greeks, sailing fearlessly under the bays of Axis bombers.” From 4:08 to 4:52 is a no-narration sequence of mostly “ugly music” as the Royal Navy fights off another air attack.

A jaunty march at 5:24 [C] heralds the British troops’ arrival in Greek harbors, the tune having been written for the already-completed EP10 (at 15:41).