The Secret Army is a 1972 documentary film about the Provisional IRA, made by J. Bowyer Bell and Zwy Aldouby. It is notable for its footage of IRA members (notably Martin McGuinness) and their activities at the height of The Troubles.[1][2]
Viacom purchased the worldwide distribution rights for the film. The film disappeared after its making, and was not released by Viacom despite having purchased the rights to do so.[2][3] Viacom told Gildin, the executive producer, that the film was forbidden in the British commonwealth.[3][4] Bell believed that British intelligence persuaded authorities in the United States to stifle the film, while another theory alleges that escalating violence in Northern Ireland unnerved some U.S. television networks. Gildin also claimed that Bell and Aldouby told him that British intelligence had viewed the film while it was being developed in London.[2][5]
Its existence was revealed by the BBC in 2019, and clips from it are incorporated in a 2024 BBC documentary about its making, also titled The Secret Army.[6][7]
The documentary was presented by the journalist Darragh MacIntyre.[2][8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ MacIntyre, Darragh; Thornton, Chris (March 2024). "Exposed: The true story of a lost documentary". BBC News. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Carroll, Rory (30 March 2024). "The Secret Army: how the IRA gave US crew access for 1972 propaganda film". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ a b Black, Rebecca (18 October 2019). "1972 US documentary on the IRA was 'banned' from being shown in UK". Belfast Telegraph. Press Association. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ Kindregan, Robert (27 March 2024). "All access IRA documentary to air tonight after it was lost for 50 years". Newstalk. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ Creamer, Nora (19 October 2019). "1972 IRA documentary was 'banned' from being shown". The Journal. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ McLaughlin, Sophie (26 March 2024). "Documentary on American film crew who had access to the IRA to air on BBC". Belfast Live. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Loughnane, Alan (15 September 2019). "BBC's documentary on The Troubles will show rare footage of the IRA carrying out an attack". Joe.ie. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Power, Ed (28 March 2024). "The Secret Army review: Extraordinary story of lost IRA documentary told in gripping style". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
External links
[edit]The Secret Army on The Internet Archive
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