United States World War II Propaganda: Films and Videos
The Beginnings of USA WWII Film Propaganda
In response to the impressive and "terrifying" German propaganda film Triumph of the Will by Leni Riefenstahls, Frank Capra was commissioned by the United States government to direct Why We Fight. This documentary aimed to convince the United States - only just coming out of a non-intervention policy and mindset - that the war with the Axis, especially Germany, and the alliance to the Soviets was justified, among other points. Spanning seven films, Why We Fight utilized both actual footage and Disney animations in black-and-white in order to convince Americans of the necessity of going to war, the principles the USA fought for, and the outcome America hoped to achieve and the ones they desperately worked to prevent. All averaged an hour in length and at least 54 million Americans viewed it by the end of the war. And while some critics called the films too persuasive and warned against mass war hysteria, studies investigating the films' impact was inconclusive. Below are links to the seven films.
Disney in World War II Propaganda
Image from the Disney film, "Der Fuehrer's Face".
In addition to bits and pieces inserted in Why We Fight, Disney also aided the United States government by creating short films which alienated the US from the Axis. Such films include Der Fuehrer's Face (pictured left), Education for Death: The Making of the Nazis, and Commando Duck. The New Spirit and The Spirit of '43 were made to influence Americans' attitude towards the new income tax. Below is the film Education for Death. It was calculated at one time that 90% of Disney employees worked on content that was destined as propaganda material. Ironically, Hitler was once reported as overjoyed when he received 18 "Mickey Mouse" films for Christmas.
Film Overall
The employment of film during the course of WWII by the Americans is considered an overall success. Hollywood worked many times hand-in-hand with the US government to produce works that inspired the public with the righteousness of the fight, and the American people responded with enthusiasm. The upbeat and hopeful messages incorporated in the films which sustained Americans throughout the war were also mixed with fear tactics and techniques which inflamed the American people against their "evil" foes. Despite the their achievements, these films and movies were shelved for decades following WWII as the public generally wanted to forget the traumatic and exhausting times they represented.