Let There Be Light (1946) – History of Mental Health in the US

Week #14

Let There Be Light (1946) — known to the U.S. Army as PMF 5019 — is a documentary film directed by American filmmaker John Huston, while serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II.

Our class this Tuesday has some readings on PTSD and the terrible impact this disorder had on returning veterans. I have covered this topic for several of my history courses and this film was part of my research. John Huston was an amazing film director, writer, producer and actor. Some of his most famous films are: The Maltese Falcon, Key Largo, and The African Queen. It is notable that Huston, while serving as a Major in the Army Signal Corps, directed this documentary.

The film was intended to educate the public about PTSD and its treatment among returning WWII veterans. Unfortunately, the film’s gritty unscripted presentation of PTSD was so upsetting the government suppressed the film, and it was not released until the 1980s.