Hollywood in WWII
The early years of the 40s did not look promising for American film, with the attack on Pearl Harbor and the loss of foreign markets. However, Hollywood film production peaked in the years 1943-1946. The movie industry responded to the moves toward rearmament and warfare by making movies and having starts enlist or report for duty. The Office of War Information was an important propaganda agency during WWII and coordinated with the film industry to record and photograph during the war. The 40s offered extensive escapist entertainment, reassurance, and patriotic themes. For example, Mrs. Miniver (1942) was a moving tribute about the trauma of Dunkirk. Alfred Hitchcock directed Foreign Correspondent (1940) which was a plea for the US to recognize the Nazi threat in Europe and end its isolationist state.
Hollywood’s most impactful contribution to the war effort during this time was morale. Many of the movies were very patriotic and gave the people an affirmed sense of national purpose. The film industry triggered a severe emotional response from the nation. Films like Casablanca, Once upon a Honeymoon and the Best Years of Our Lives, connected Americans to a war that was physically distant yet emotionally embedded within them. Combat films emphasized patriotism, group effort, and the value of sacrifice for a greater cause.
Actors led recruitment and entertained the troops off the screen. Frank Capra, John Ford, and John Huston enlisted and made documentaries on “why we fight”. In less than a year, 12 percent of film employees entered the armed forces and by the end of the war, one-quarter of Hollywood’s male employees were part of the war.
Hollywood’s most successful year in the box office was 1946. This marked the end of WWII meaning soldiers were coming home and families were reunited. Americans were going to the movies about 5-6 times a week. No matter what the type of film, Americans visited the theaters not only as a means of escape, but also as a way to subconsciously connect themselves to the realities of war.
I love how you connected a form of culture to the war. I like how you specifically used famous films like "Casablanca." I also found it interesting that the best year for Hollywood was 1946, it makes sense though because of the returning soldiers.
ReplyDeleteI like how at the end you talk about how film became a sort of refuge for people as their sons and husbands were coming back from the war. It reminds us of that awkward transition from soldier to civilian which must have been hard for many who served during the war.
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