Title: Celluloid soldiers : the Warner Bros. campaign against Nazism /
Authors: Birdwell, Michael E., 1957-
Publisher: New York University Press,
Year: 1999
Subjects: Warner Bros. Pictures (1923-1967) History.; Warner Bros. Pictures (1923-1967); Warner Brothers Pictures (New York, N.Y.); Warner bros, inc Histoire.; Warner Brothers Pictures.; National socialism and motion pictures.; National socialism and motion pictures; Propaganda.; Films.; Warner Brothers.; Nationaal-socialisme.; Bestrijding.; Antifaschismus; Film; National-socialisme et cinéma; Film.; Antifaschismus.; Geschichte 1934-1941.
Abstract: During the 1930s many Americans avoided thinking about war erupting in Europe, believing it of little significance to their interests. Yet, the Warner Bros. film studio embarked on a virtual crusade to alert Americans to the growing menace of Nazism. Polis-Jewish immigrants Harry and Jack Warner risked both reputation and fortune to inform the American public of the insidious threat Hitler's regime posed to the world. Through a score of films produced during the 1930s and early 1940sincluding the pivotal Sergeant York - the Warner Bros. studio marshaled its forces to influence the American conscience and push the nation toward intervention in World War II.
Contents: Warner Bros. and the opening salvos against Nazism, 1934-1939 -- Black Legion: fascism in the heartland -- The road to Confessions of a Nazi spy and beyond -- A change of heart: Alvin York and the movie Sergeant York -- Using the devil's tool to do God's work: Sergeant York, America first, and the intervention debate -- Hollywood under the gun: the Senate investigation of propaganda in motion pictures -- "This isn't what we had in mind."