Duplication * | Film Genres * | Inquiry Unlimited *


HOLLYWOOD AT WAR -

The Motion Picture Industry During World War II

After the government proclaimed movies as "an essential industry" President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his State of the Union address to Congress in January 1942, explained the six areas around which he felt film propaganda could be based. Movies could be the nation's cheerleader making the average American believe that the enemy was evil, home was worth protecting, and all the danger and difficulties of war were justified. The themes of doing one's part for the war effort, being patriot, helping out were emphasized.

• The issues of war (why we are fighting)
  
  
  
• The nature of the enemy - propaganda films were designed to impersonalize individuals and show their warped values threatening the American way of life. ("We" vs. "Them" approach)
  • Suspicion - Director: Billy Wilder
  • Five Graves to Cairo - Director: Billy Wilder
  • The Hitler Gang
  • Tomorrow, the World
  
  
  
• The united nations (our allies in arms) - Propaganda concept: gain sympathy and support for U. S. allies abroad. These movies stereotyped the Allied countries showing them to be good, honorable, brave and devoid of normal human flaws.
  • White Cliffs of Dover
  • This Land Is Mine
  • Edge of Darkness
  • Mission to Moscow
  • Mrs. Miniver
  
  
  
• The production front
  • Tender Comrades - factory-worker wives kept their spirits up while husbands were at war
  
  
  
• The home front
  • The More the Merrier - sublet a room in Washington, D.C. during the war housing shortage; shows ingenuity - romantic comedy. Cast: Jean Arthur, Charles Coburn, Joel McCrea.
  • Since You Went Away -
  • escapism - This Is the Army, Hollywood Canteen, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Anchors Aweigh - flag-waving morale boosters
  • Entertainment movies, movies made ignoring the war and not mentioning hard times - Meet Me in St. Louis, Cover Girl, The Gang's All Here, Lassie Come Home, National Velvet, My Friend Flicka, The Yearling, The Red Pony, Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi,
  
  
  
• The fighting forces - romanticized version of events at the beginning of the war -
  • Wake Island
  • Guadalcanal Diary
  • Casablanca - 1943 Academy Award winner - war romance
  
  
  
• The fighting forces - less romantic and more realistic version at the end of the war
  • A Walk in the Sun
  • 1944 - The Purple Heart
  • So Proudly We Hail
  • 1945 - The Story of G. I. Joe

---

Resource tools: Martin, Mick and Porter, Marsha. Video Movie Guide 2001 Ballantine Publishing, 2000.
Simon, Charnan. Hollywood at War: The Motion Picture Industry and World War II. NY: Franklin Watts: 1995.

---

Contact Marjorie Duby * if you have any additional input. As of December 27, you are visitor to share our World War II films from Hollywood.

Inquiry Unlimited *

Settings of USA Motion Pictures - States N - W * titles

Lyrics Across the USA *

Timelines of USA * History

Last modified: September 19, 2005. Copyright 2003 - Marjorie Duby . All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, this website and its contents are the property of the Inquiry Unlimited and are protected, without limitation pursuant to United States and foreign copyright laws. All rights reserved.