The feature attraction here is the 'general purpose' vehicle born at the outset of World War II and commonly referred to as a 'jeep'. The ten minute short utilizes a jeep itself as a narrative device in the story, detailing the reasons why it came about and showing the many rugged uses that it was required to perform in service to the country. Quite honestly, the ones shown driving through inhospitable terrain and wading across rivers was quite a novel way of instructing American citizens and soldiers on how useful the vehicle could be in a wartime situation. After a successful introduction on a limited basis, the jeep went into mass production and was used extensively throughout the war. The film offers snippets of famous generals and politicians of the era riding on board, folks like President Roosevelt, Queen Elizabeth and General Douglas MacArthur. Of interest to IMDb fans, celebrities of the day riding in a jeep parade included Claudette Colbert, Laurel and Hardy, Desi Arnaz and Lou Costello. As if to corroborate the importance and appeal of the jeep to American servicemen in all theaters of the war, the jeep itself proudly states "The American soldier and I got along fine."
Review of The Autobiography of a 'Jeep'
