Prelude to War (1943)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Writers:

Julius J. Epstein (writer)
Philip G. Epstein (writer)

Release Date:

27 May 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | War

Tagline:

Your boy wants you to see it!

Plot:

The official World War II US Government film statement defining the various enemies of the Allies and why they must be fought.

Plot Keywords:

Italian Wars | Italian History | Nazi | Ethiopia | Propaganda

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins

Cast

Max Schmeling

...

German paratrooper

Also Known As:

Why We Fight, 1 (USA) (series title)
Preludio alla guerra (Italy) [it]
Vorspiel zum Krieg (Germany) [de]

Runtime:

53 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Italian | Japanese | Amharic | Russian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

U.S. Army Special Service Division

Movie Connections:

Referenced in C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America (2004)

Soundtrack:

IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR

An excellent example of propaganda

This is Frank Capra's classic first installment from the seven film series entitled, "Why We Fight." It is a masterpiece of US propaganda, shown first to soldiers, later to the US public, and eventually to our allies (including the Soviet Union). With dramatic narration and musical score, it drives home the point that "Our World, the free world" must fight "That other world." Capra's idea was to use the film archives of Japanese, German, and Italian propagandists against them with, of course, careful editing and translating.

If you are looking to buy a copy, CARE SHOULD BE EXERCISED due to the existence of a fraudulent film by the same title. The original is a classic, starting with a lively series of shots, often employing double exposures and fading edits, listing the fallen nations to the axis powers. One poorly done fraud, sold in a set of four with three of the original series titles, has a narrator reading a textbook or encyclopedia and turning the pages...