View source for Prelude to War

{{short description|1942 film by Frank Capra, Anatole Litvak}}
{{distinguish|text=the novel [[Prelude for War]]}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Prelude to War
| image          = [[File:Why We Fight- Prelude to War.webm|200px]]
| caption        = Film
| director       = [[Frank Capra]]
| producer       = Frank Capra
| writer         = {{ubl|[[Anthony Veiller]]|[[Eric Knight]]}}
| narrator       = [[Walter Huston]]
| music          = {{ubl|'''Uncredited:'''|[[Hugo Friedhofer]]|[[Leigh Harline]]|[[Arthur Lange]]|[[Cyril J. Mockridge]]|[[Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]]|[[David Raksin]]}}
| cinematography = [[Robert Flaherty]]
| editing        = {{ubl|[[William Hornbeck]]|Michael R. McAdam}}
| distributor    = [[Twentieth Century-Fox]]<br>[[War Activities Committee of the Motion Pictures Industry]]
| released       = {{Film date|1943|5|27}}<ref name=":0" />
| runtime        = 52 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
}}
'''''Prelude to War''''' is the first film of [[Frank Capra]]'s ''[[Why We Fight]]'' film series commissioned by the [[Office of War Information]] (OWI) and [[George C. Marshall]]. It was made to educate American troops of the necessity of combating the [[Axis powers]] during [[World War II]] based on the idea that those in the service would fight more willingly and ably if they knew the background and the reason for their participation in the war. The film was later released to the general American public as a rallying cry for support of the war.

==Summary==
[[Image:AxisWarAims.png|left|thumb|The Axis aim of total world conquest, as shown in ''Prelude to War''.]]
In an edit added to the film before public release, a comment by [[US Secretary of War]] [[Henry L. Stimson]], is quoted to create trust with the audience: "the purpose of these films is to give factual information as to the causes, the events leading up to our entry into the war and the principles for which we are fighting."
[[File:transmitlies.jpeg|250px|right|thumb|''Prelude to War'' depicts the Nazi propaganda machine.]]
The purpose of the OWI was to use mass communication to appeal to both serving soldiers and later, the American population on the reasons for the war; and so it released ''Prelude to War'' to further those goals.<ref name=kurash>Kurash, J. [https://www.army.mil/article/17411/a-prelude-to-war/ "A Prelude to War"] (1 March 2009). Retrieved from https://www.army.mil</ref> The film starts by an explanation of how Americans were brought into the war through heroic motives to protect countries unable to protect themselves. The film expresses the view that America had this duty to righteousness and [[Christian ethics|Christian values]] throughout history, according to the values and the beliefs set forth by the [[Founding Fathers of the United States|Founding Fathers]].<ref>German, Kathleen. "Frank Capra's Why We Fight Series and the American Audience." Western Journal of Speech Communication 54. (1990): 237–248.</ref>

The film makes use of compare and contrast methods throughout the film to transmit its [[hero]]ic message. The primary images used within the film to portray the opponents of America are introduced by [[Henry A. Wallace|Henry Wallace]] as the "free world," a brightly-illuminated planet of the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]], and a "slave world," a planet deep in shadow of the Axis powers. These maps were animated by [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney Productions]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Prelude to War|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/27687-PRELUDE-TOWAR?sid=f3f5e904-b8ac-49be-87fe-93bbb378ba76&sr=11.170069&cp=1&pos=0|access-date=2021-11-22|website=AFI Catalog}}</ref>

The film examines the differences between the [[United States]] and the fascist [[Axis powers|Axis]] states of [[Benito Mussolini]], [[Adolf Hitler]] and [[Hirohito]] by portraying the latter countries working together as [[gangsters]] to conquer the world. That is done by footage from Nazi's ''[[Triumph of the Will|Triumph des Willens (Triumph of the Will)]]'' but with different narration designed to support the Allied cause.

It is emphasized that after the [[Nazis]] smashed the opposing political parties and labor unions, they turned their attention to their last remaining obstacle, the church. In one scene, a stained glass window is shattered by several bricks to reveal a [[Heil Hitler|"Heil Hitler!"]] poster behind. To emphasize that depiction of Hitler as an [[Antichrist]] figure, a class of German schoolchildren is shown singing to the song ''Frederick Rex'':

<blockquote>Adolf Hitler is our Saviour, our hero<br>He is the noblest being in the whole wide world.<br>For Hitler we live,<br>For Hitler we die.<br>Our Hitler is our Lord<br>Who rules a brave new world.</blockquote>

[[Image:Noentanglements.jpg|right|thumb|Protestors rallied under slogans like "[[Non-interventionism|No Foreign Entanglements]]"]]

In the two decades following [[World War I]] and the failure of the [[League of Nations]], a spirit of [[United States non-interventionism|isolationism]] becomes prevalent throughout the United States and persists until the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].<ref>Auchincloss, Kenneth (8 March 1999). "Americans Go To War". Newsweek (New York).</ref> That presented a major obstacle in garnering support for the war, as Americans did not feel a sense of unity with other nations of the world, most notably, [[Europe]]. In an effort to dispel that isolationist way of thinking, ''Prelude to War'' was produced to raise the enthusiasm and interest of US troops for the international struggle.<ref>Rollins, Peter C (ed.). (2003) "Indoctrination and Propaganda, 1942–1945" The Columbia companion to American history on film: How the movies have portrayed the American past. Columbia University Press. pp. 118.</ref><ref>Thomas, Nicholas (ed.). (1990) [1st. Pub. 1965] "Why We Fight," International dictionary of films and filmmakers (2nd ed). St. James Press. pp.976–979.</ref>

The film addresses the need for change in Americans' views on the war by interviews with civilians. In response to whether or not America should get involved in the war, Americans are depicted saying, "I think we should stay out of it entirely" and "They mean nothing to us." [[Opposition to World War II|Protesters against the war]] rally under slogans like "No Foreign Entanglements." The film argues that contrary to the public opinion of the time, American problems "were and always will be dependent upon the problems of the entire world and our peace is gained when there is peace for all."

The film pointed to the [[Japanese invasion of Manchuria]] as the [[Causes of World War II|beginning of World War II]]: "remember that date: Sept 18, 1931 a date you should remember as well as Dec 7, 1941. For on that date in 1931 the war we are now fighting begun." It stated that it was known that the aggressors should be stopped but that it was impossible to convince ordinary people "that they should go to war over a mud hut in [[Manchuria]]."

After going over the [[Second Sino-Japanese War|Japanese invasion of China]], the film asks about [[Empire of Japan|Japan]]'s allies by stating that before Hitler was ready, Mussolini had to be ready since his government had not been able to produce what it had promised and "so he pulled the old trick of a foreign war to divert from troubles at home." The film then describes just how outclassed Ethiopia was against Italy and how "we hadn't realized that peace for us involves peace for all" and that Hitler would be taken up in the [[The Nazis Strike|next film]].

==Significance==
The US Army used ''Prelude to War'' as a training film for soldiers before its release in theaters. Prior to deployment, all US soldiers had to view the film. The goal in showing it to the general public was to unify the country and to encourage all to their part in the war effort. The films produced by Capra inspired society to mobilize as a nation and rally around their country, their troops, and their president.<ref name=kurash />

Despite its initial purpose as a training film, OWI Director [[Elmer Davis]] and President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] were so satisfied with it that it was released theatrically to the general public.<ref name=":0" /> The film series was a useful tool in motivating the public and boosted support for the war. It was so well perceived that on March 4, 1943, the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] awarded an [[Academy Award]] to Capra for ''Prelude to War'' as the best documentary film of 1942 (The picture was released to the public in 1943, but previously screened to soldiers since 30 October 1942<ref name=":0" />), an illustration of how the government and the military successfully and cohesively relayed their message of national unity to the American people through popular culture.<ref name=kurash />

==See also==

* [[Propaganda in the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Internet Archive film|id=PreludeToWar|name=Prelude to War}}
* {{YouTube|wcAsIWfk_z4|''Prelude to War''}}, posted by the [[National Archives and Records Administration]]
* {{IMDb title|0035209}}

{{Frank Capra}}
{{AcademyAwardBestDocumentaryFeature1942-1960}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American World War II propaganda films]]
[[Category:1942 films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Frank Capra]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Why We Fight]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox films]]
[[Category:Best Documentary Feature Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:American documentary films]]
[[Category:1942 documentary films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Hugo Friedhofer]]
[[Category:Films scored by Leigh Harline]]
[[Category:Films scored by Arthur Lange]]
[[Category:Films scored by Cyril J. Mockridge]]
[[Category:Films scored by Alfred Newman]]
[[Category:Films scored by David Raksin]]
[[Category:Japan in non-Japanese culture]]