Explore the wartime contributions of five influential film directors during World War II: John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens.
Documenting the War Effort
During the second world war, Hollywood played a pivotal role in boosting morale and contributing to the war effort nationwide. Movie stars such as Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart served in active duty and promoted the sale of war bonds. Popular music groups such as the Glenn Miller Orchestra performed overseas for troops as part of USO tours.
One facet of the war effort that was essential was the documentation of war by noted film directors. By recording (in most cases) the real-time experiences of their men overseas, these directors brought the war home to audiences like never before.
“Netflix's "Five Came Back," based on the book by Mark Harris, is a cinephile and historian's dream come true. It captures a chapter of not just film history but war and American history in a way it hasn't been before. At times, it's almost overwhelming in its detail and varied subject matter, chronicling so many facets of how film and war intertwined during World War II.” – Roger Ebert, rogerebert.com
Five Came Back (Netflix, 2017) is a documentary film based on the 2014 book Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War by journalist Mark Harris. It explores the experiences and impact of the war on five major film directors of the time: John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens.
ABOVE: Battle Of Midway In World War II.
An artist's impression of the Battle of Midway, during World War II, June 1942. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images).
The Films
Each director experienced the war in a deep and profound way, though not all came home unscathed.
John Ford was celebrated for his engrossing live footage of the fight for control in the Pacific in The Battle of Midway (1942).
In The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944), William Wyler recorded the final flight of the B-12 bomber Memphis Belle and its journey back home after 25 recorded missions overseas.
ABOVE: Young WWII Infantryman Sitting On A Cot In His Tent (stock photo).
A Young WWII US Infantryman and one other soldier sitting in their tent. Contemplating, worrying, and thinking of home (embed from Getty Images).
Let There Be Light (1946) highlights the struggle soldiers faced when coming home. Not only did they suffer physically, but also psychologically. Director John Huston explores the effects of these stresses, then known as “shell shock” or “battle fatigue”, on soldiers returning from active duty. Fearing the demoralization of its troops, the film was initially banned by the U.S. Army following its completion. Finally released in the 1980s, it contributed greatly to our modern understanding of post-traumatic stress and the effects of war on those enlisted.
Frank Capra’s Prelude to War (1942) is the first of a series of seven films commissioned by the U.S. Department of War. The series, entitled “Why We Fight”, was initially created as an educational tool to explain the United States’ involvement in the war to U.S. troops. However, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered that it also be made available for public viewing. It became a powerful tool against enemy propaganda being distributed at the time.
ABOVE: Building At Dachau Concentration Camp.
(Original Caption) Dachau, Germany: Exterior view of a building at Dachau Concentration Camp. Photo by Heinrich Weingland (Embed from Getty Images).
With Nazi Concentration Camps (1945), George Stephens detailed the devastation of the Holocaust, from the liberation of prisoners at the camp in Dachau to subsequent revelations as local townspeople were brought face to face with this humanitarian crisis. Stephens was said to be so traumatized by his experiences that he personally viewed the footage again only once following then end of the war.
War as A Complex Experience
Though many of these films were perceived as a positive force by many contemporaries and historians, they also highlighted the complexities and dual nature of war. As with any historical event, World War II is comprised of nuances and stories that many of us will never see. These films do not represent the entirety of what happened, but rather, they highlight the war through the unique creative voice of five legendary film directors.
The Reference Films
Five Came Back: The Reference Films is a companion series, also released by Netflix, featuring all 13 documentary films discussed in Five Came Back.
The Battle of Midway (1942), John Ford
Prelude to War (1942), Frank Capra
The Battle of Russia (1943), Frank Capra
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines (1943), John Ford
The Negro Soldier (1944), Stuart Heisler; produced by Frank Capra
Tunisian Victory (1944), John Huston
Know Your Enemy: Japan (1945), Frank Capra
The Battle of San Pietro (1945), John Huston
Nazi Concentration Camps (1945), George Stevens
Let There Be Light (1946), John Huston
Thunderbolt (1947), William Wyler
About the Author
Jayme Nelson holds a bachelor's degree in music education from West Texas A&M University and a master's degree in library science from Texas Woman's University, with a focus in archives and special collections. She plays bassoon in the Austin Symphonic Band and several other volunteer music ensembles in the Austin area. A former orchestra librarian and archivist in training, Jayme also serves as a collections volunteer at the Austin History Center, a local city archive. As part of her graduate studies, she recently helped to draft a collection development policy for the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History in Austin, TX.
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