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09/12/1941 Documentary 0h 20m
60
User score

Overview

This Best Short Subject Academy Award winning film begins in the spring of 1940, just before the Nazi occupation of the Benelux countries, and ends immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It chronicles how the people of "Main Street America", the country's military forces, and its industrial base were completely transformed when the decision was made to gear up for war. Original footage is interspersed with contemporary newsreels and stock footage.

  1. Edward L. Cahn

    Director

Top billed cast

  1. John Nesbitt

    Narrator (voice)

  2. Barbara Bedford

    Nurse (uncredited)

  3. Margaret Bert

    Mrs. Schulte (uncredited)

  4. Robert Blake

    Schulte Child (uncredited)

  5. Naomi Childers

    Window Shopper (uncredited)

  6. Mark Daniels

    Engineer (uncredited)

  7. Robert Homans

    Lighthouse Keeper (uncredited)

  8. Milton Kibbee

    News Vendor Rod Meakin (uncredited)

  9. May McAvoy

    Window Shopper (uncredited)

  10. View more

Full Cast & Crew

Reviews

A review by CinemaSerf
Written by CinemaSerf on 2025-07-10
Whilst your average American citizen enjoyed the fruits of their labours and liberties, they begin to read of the war in Europe. As the Nazi war machine makes light work of the defences of Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and even France the attention of the US government is drawn to apparent failings in it’s own abilities to defend itself! President Roosevelt attempts to galvanise his military by increasing massively the spend on the navy and the air force whilst improving vastly on the training facilities for and recruitment of an army that might be one tenth the size it needs to be. Then, of ...read the rest
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Status
Released

Original Language
English

Budget
$0.00

Revenue
$0.00

Keywords