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Let There Be Light

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description Let There Be Light Overview

Let There Be Light is a 1946 documentary film directed by John Huston and produced by the United States Army Pictorial Services as the final installment of Huston's World War II trilogy. Filmed at Mason General Hospital in Brentwood, New York, it depicts soldiers receiving psychiatric treatment for what was then termed 'psychoneurosis' following combat service. The documentary shows group therapy sessions, hypnosis, and sodium amytal interviews as treatment methods. The U.S.

Army suppressed the film for over three decades, restricting public viewing until 1980.

help Let There Be Light FAQ

What treatments are shown in Let There Be Light?

The film follows U.S. soldiers receiving psychiatric care for combat-related trauma after World War II. It shows interviews, group therapy, hypnosis, and other treatment methods used at a military hospital.

Why was John Huston's documentary suppressed?

The U.S. Army withheld the film after its completion in 1946, officially raising concerns involving patient privacy and consent. Critics have also connected the suppression to its candid portrayal of lasting psychological injuries among returning soldiers.

Where was Let There Be Light filmed?

Huston's crew filmed patients at Mason General Hospital on Long Island, New York. The men appearing on camera were actual soldiers undergoing treatment rather than actors recreating cases.

Is Let There Be Light related to John Huston's other wartime documentaries?

Yes. It is generally grouped with Report from the Aleutians and The Battle of San Pietro, which Huston also made for the U.S. military during World War II.

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