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27/05/1942 Documentary, War 0h 53m
65
User score

The US government puts the finger on the United Nations' enemies

Overview

Prelude to War was the first film of Frank Capra's Why We Fight propaganda film series, commissioned by the Pentagon and George C. Marshall. It was made to convince American troops of the necessity of combating the Axis Powers during World War II. This film examines the differences between democratic and fascist states.

  1. Frank Capra

    Director

  2. Anatole Litvak

    Director

Top billed cast

  1. Walter Huston

    Self - Narrator (voice)

  2. Max Schmeling

    Self - German paratrooper (archive footage)

  3. Adolf Hitler

    Self

  4. View more

Full Cast & Crew

Reviews

A review by CinemaSerf
Written by CinemaSerf on 2025-10-26
Crafted by Frank Capra at the instigation of General Marshall, this is a bit more sophisticated that the usual propaganda exercise Hollywood produced following the raid on Pearl Harbour. This time it uses an effective array of archive to not so much extol the virtues of the great American war machine as to chronologically vilify the axis powers. There’s not so much actual footage of the Emperor but they still manage to illustrate the processes of Japanese expansion through Korea, Manchuria and eventually Shanghai. Mussolini and Hitler provide much more fertile territory for the filmmakers as...read the rest
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Status
Released

Original Language
English

Budget
$0.00

Revenue
$0.00

Keywords