Combat Fatigue Irritability (US Navy, 1945)

Gene Kelly directs and stars in this wartime naval "training" film. Kelly plays the role of Seaman Bob Lucas, a troubled and angry "fireman" whose ship was sunk in battle. Many sailors died at sea, but Lucas lived through it and suffers from what now might be termed "post-traumatic stress disorder." After lashing out at everyone around him, Lucas comes to understand his emotions, and moves from illness to wellness, with the help of a wise psychiatrist. Kelly considered his performance in Combat Fatigue Irritability one of his very best. But no filmography lists it. Apart from the combat-fatigued sailors for whom the film was made, few people have ever had the chance to see it. With this release it becomes accessible to Kelly's devoted fans and a wider public.

Produced by United States Navy Department, Bureau of Aeronautics

Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9300763A

See it featured also at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/collection...


Learn more about the National Library of Medicine's historical audiovisuals program at: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/collectio...

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