France Televisions - The Hollywood War 1939-1945 (2013) Part 3 On Every Front

– Original title “La guerre d'Hollywood 1939-1945” – While the world is about to be thrown into the Second World War, the American studios are going to put in place a unique mobilization in the history of cinema. At the end of the 1930s, Hollywood was indeed experiencing its golden age an average of eighty-five million Americans went to theaters each week. It is therefore through the cinema that the American government will address the entire nation to ask it to participate in the war effort. Responding to the call of President Roosevelt, the eight major Hollywood studios devoted their resources and talents in the service of the war effort. Feature films, documentaries, cartoons thousands of films are produced for the general public or the different branches of the military. All serve a purpose to motivate the commitment of new recruits, assist in the training of troops or to the organisation of the home front and denounce the Nazi ideology; to exacerbate the patriotic feeling… The greatest male stars of the time put on the uniform Clark Gable, James Stewart and Tyrone Power all actively participate in combat while Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis and Rita Hayworth mobilise to raise funds or entertain the troops. All producers, actors and directors, from the most famous stars to more anonymous technicians answer the call of the government to set up a giant propaganda machine and produce hundreds of films to support the American War effort. Largely unpublished archives, belonging mainly to the collections of the National Archives, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, UCLA (University of Los Angeles), the Library of Congress as well as private collections, “making-of shots”, rushes, but also excerpts or trailers of feature films, photographs, posters, promotional material, magazine covers… retrace this extraordinary adventure. THE HOLLYWOOD WAR portrays this unique venture and offers an original look into the Second World War, the history of America and the cinema.

Part 3 On Every Front

During World War II, Hollywood's efforts gave an unprecedented boost to the morale and recruitment levels of the American armed forces, making cinema the most important form of popular media produced during the war. This importance is demonstrated by the extensive use of films in propaganda, recruitment, training, and morale-boosting. The stars are also involved. Some stars shoot educational films while others, like Clark Gable, James Stewart or Tyrone Power placed themselves in harm's way. At the end of the conflict, Hollywood cameras witness the liberation of the camps, providing so much evidence of the enemy's war crimes and crimes against humanity. But after the German capitulation, the public still had to be convinced of the need to put an end to Japan's resistance.

Full Version Available Upon Request