Prelude to War (1943)
Genre: Documentary / War
Duration: 53 minuten
Alternative title: Why We Fight, 1
Country:
United States
Directed by: Frank Capra and Anatole Litvak
Stars: Walter Huston
IMDb score:
7,0 (2.581)
Releasedate: 27 May 1942
Prelude to War plot
"The US government puts the finger on the United Nations' enemies"
This documentary, which was used as propaganda in the US military during World War II, answers the question of why America fought in this war. It examines how the dictatorship could develop in Italy, Germany and Japan and gives a glimpse into enemy propaganda.
Actors and actresses
Self - Narrator (voice)
Self - German paratrooper (archive footage)
Reviews & comments
Onderhond
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- 87655 messages
- 12966 votes
One in the American propaganda series.
That in itself is interesting, because you are presented with a rather unsubtle worldview. Also interesting is the promotional talk of America at the time and the image/behavior of America today. Maybe they should show this documentary there too.
However, there is still some effective information to be gained through the propaganda. The link between Japan/Germany/Italy is fascinating and the run-up to the war is a subject that usually receives less attention than the actual war itself.
On the other hand, everything is drizzled with such a thick sauce of patriotism that even the 53 minutes become a bit tiring. It's all quite flashy and not very subtle. Not unexpected, but therefore not good of course.
1.5*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Movsin
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- 8286 messages
- 8443 votes
Frank Capra, top director in the 30s, 40s and 50s, made this on behalf of The US War Department, primarily to inform the nation why the United States entered the war.
The fact that some self-praise crept into the film is forgivable because the intention was commendable and in the end it was rightly made clear that freedom and democracy in the world were being displaced by military power grabs and treaties intended to guarantee peace had been violated since 1931. Peace in America equaled peace in the world...
A lot of realistic archive material, with the emphasis on the propaganda and explosions of power of the aggressors.
Neat overview of the history of the Second World War.
Translated from Dutch · View original
mjk87 (moderator films)
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- 14700 messages
- 4599 votes
Heavy propaganda film that mentions a number of negative points about the US, but otherwise sees that country as a kind of Garden of Eden with its democracy. Not always convincing in that regard, but it doesn't really bother me.
Otherwise an interesting documentary, clearly told with enough interesting maps and graphics and a decent underlying idea in which Japan, Germany and Italy are compared. Especially that scene with marching people that goes on and on is very strong. 3.5*.
Translated from Dutch · View originalPre- and sequels
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1945
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