A fascinating look at World War II military parachuting techniques, Parachute Battalion is also picture of nineteen forties patriotism and propaganda. Made with the willing consent and help of the 501st Parachute Battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia, the film is both a fun drama and a gripping documentary. Parachute Battalion follows the lives of three new jumpers, each with much different personalities: the cocky and eager jock, a timid wimp, and a clueless buffoon. Their interactions, along with a minor romantic plot, give the film a base. But the heart of Parachute Battalion is the beautiful aerial shots and engrossing details of what it was actually like to be a parachute jumper in World War II.
