Hollywood History: World War II Propaganda
By Timothy Sexton, published Dec 29, 2006
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Propaganda during World War II tended to be far less overbearing from Hollywood than it was from Berlin, but for only one reason. Even in the pursuit of a noble aim such as drumming up support for the war, Hollywood executives still have only one true goal: box office profit. It is a testament to the good old-fashioned greed of the studio bosses and to the talents of the writers, actors and directors in Hollywood that American movies weren't not mere propaganda. If the interlopers from the Office of War Information and the Bureau of Motion Pictures had had their way, it is highly doubtful that few war-related movies would be remembered today.
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Takeaways
- Even in the pursuit of a noble aim such as drumming up support for the war, Hollywood executives still have only one true goal: box office profit.
- Washington sought to influence every aspect of wartime filmmaking, from how much blood flowed during battle scenes to whether movies that satirized American values in any way would be released internationally.
- A vital component during the war effort, of course, was the introduction of women into the workforce and this was reflected in movies.
Did You Know?
Some Warner Brothers cartoons of the era have been effectively removed from existence as a result of the often racist and certainly overbearing portrayal of Germans and, especially, of the Japanese.
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