We commemorate this week the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings. This is the time to remember that Hollywood stars and filmmakers, already famous, or still unknown at that time, came to rescue Europe.

It is well known that Hollywood participated in the war efforts by filming propaganda movies, by participating in enlistment campaigns and in entertainment for troops, and by exhorting to buy war bonds. But actors and directors were also involved in the military action. The generation born between 1915 and 1925 had been drafted to defend the United States on the Pacific front. Among them were Charles Bronson, Paul Newman, Tyrone Power, Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson, Lee Marvin, Paul Newman, John Russell or Robert Altman. Among the younger volunteers were those who fought in Europe.

Lee Van Cleef, born in 1925, enlists in the Navy in September 1942. He is commissioned to a submarine chaser and then to a minesweeper, before participating in the invasion of Provence.

Sidney Chaplin Jr, born in 1926, drafts into the infantry at age 18. He is shipped to Europe in the Third Army under General George Patton and serves as a bazooka man.

Yul Brynner, born in 1920. At this time, not yet a U.S. citizen, and is not drafted. Having spent his childhood in France, he speaks fluent French and is hired as a radio announcer in the Office of War Information for broadcasting propaganda to occupied France.

Mel Brooks, born in 1926, enlists at age 17. Shipped to Normandy in late 1944, he is in advance of the front line as a forward artillery observer, sometimes under mortars and snipers fire. He participates in the Battle of the Bulge, as a landmine removal expert. We owe him this ironic remark : "I was a Combat Engineer, isn’t that ridiculous? The two things I hate most in the world are combat and engineering."

Clark Gable and James Stewart, ces héros!

The elders, already famous, enlisted in the Air Forces or in the Navy, have often struggled to actually take part in military action instead of staying in the back to serve as examples. They also participate in the liberation of Europe.

George Stevens, born in 1904, was known by having shot comedies for Hal Roach Studios, and later, musicals with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. He is not drafted, but he joins the Signal Corps (U.S. Army Signal Corps). He films the landings, the liberation of Paris and the liberation of the Duben and Dachau camps.

Samuel Fuller, born in 1912 has already participated in the landings in North Africa and Sicily before landing in Normandy with the third assault wave. He sets foot on Omaha Beach with the Big Red One, the company in which he is a corporal. He is also present at the liberation of Falkenau camp. His movie The Big Red One shows his experience. The film, in its restored version according to his wishes, was shown at Cannes ten years ago. It is available on DVD (2005).

Clark Gable, born in 1901, joins in 1942 the U.S. Army Air Forces and participates in raids on Germany. He is discharged shortly after the Normandy landings. Hitler had offered a reward for his capture!

James Stewart, born in 1908, was already a pilot in civilian life. He, too, volunteers in the U. S. Army Air Force and participates in raids over Germany. In 1944, he is awarded the French War Cross.

Glenn Miller, the great jazz composer, born in 1904, must also be mentioned. He was featuring with his orchestra in several movies. Enlisted in the Air Force, he disappears in '44 over the Channel. He was going to Paris to play for the troops with the Glenn Miller Air Force Band. His song Moonlight Serenade so well reflects the time that it is included in the soundtrack of about thirty films. In 1953, Anthony Mann adapts his life for the screen in The Glenn Miller Story. James Stewart interprets his character.

Others have fallen in combat and have remained among all unknown persons who crossed the Atlantic to liberate Europe from the Nazis.