For Immediate Release
Movie Premiere: In the Footsteps of Darby: A General’s Journey
When: Saturday April 26 (Free Entry)
Time: @ 1:00 (Doors open at 12:30)
Where: Darby Middle School/Darby Auditorium
616 N 14th St, Fort Smith, AR 72901, USA
Fort Smith (April 26) – A film 40 years in the making, “In the Footsteps of Darby: A General’s Journey”, documents the legacy of General William Darby and connections between Fort Smith Arkansas and Cisterna Italy. “Having the opportunity to work on this project has been nothing short of an amazing experience, says co-director Grant Thomas, Sol Studios. “As someone who was born and raised in Fort Smith, I had very little knowledge about our relationship with Cisterna, Italy. I have learned so much and I’m very excited to share this story with the greater public. The importance of General Darby‘s legacy and the sacrifice of those he led can’t be stressed enough.”
April 30, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of Col. Darby's death (April 30, 1945), listed as KIA in Nago-Torbole, Italy at the end of WWII. Local filmmakers Grant Thomas with Sol Studios and Dr. Brandon Chase Goldsmith with the Fort Smith International Film Festival have crafted an inspiring documentary that weaves together the remarkable story of General William O. Darby and Fort Smith’s 40-year sister city bond with Cisterna, Italy.
“It is one thing to read about history, but to set foot on the soil and to meet the people and families who lives were affected by World War II, brings a different sense of gravity that words on a page cannot convey,” explains co-Director Dr. Brandon Chase Goldsmith, Fort Smith International Film Festival. “I hope this movie brings this living history to life as we reveal personal stories filmed on location from Fort Smith across the sea to Italy.”
On January 30th, 1944, Darby and his Rangers, with their trademark skill and audacity, launched an assault against an entrenched German force. Against the backdrop of an enemy fortified in the harsh Italian landscape, they would face one of the most brutal and costly battles of the campaign.
Through the fire and fury of war, General Darby’s leadership, his unyielding spirit, and the valor of the men he commanded would become the defining force in the battle for Cisterna. What followed would be a story of sacrifice, heroism, and triumph—a story that changed the fate of Italy and brought the Allies one step closer to ultimate victory in Europe.
This is the story of Billy Darby, a son of Fort Smith, Arkansas, whose courageous efforts during World War II impacted countless lives. His leadership and valor not only changed the course of the war but also forged an enduring bond between the city of Fort Smith and the town of Cisterna—two places forever linked by his heroism and the sacrifice of those who fought beside him.
Today, as we remember the courage of those who fought under Darby’s command, we raise a toast not just to victory, but to the legacy of a man who made the world a little smaller and a lot braver. And so, from the heart of Arkansas to the fields of Italy, we say: Viva La Cisterna! Viva La Fort Smith!
