World War One to American Patriotism: Success by the United States’ Film Industry
Watching movies in the early twentieth century served as America’s convenient entertainment, but the American film industry also played as an important factor into the initiation of America as a dominant and thriving country. As much of Europe was in distress during World War One, the United States’ decision to stay neutral until the brink of the war (in 1917) allowed room for the American film industry to creatively expand cinema through propaganda films, short films, and newsreels. The idea of transferring propaganda posters onto the screen was an important move in order to integrate, “the fabric of American life by proving entertainment, information, …show more content…
The list of directors who opposed directing movies that demanded the theme of American neutrality by the United States film industry and government included infamous director Cecille B. DeMille’s, The Little American and another famous American director, D.W. Griffith’s Hearts of the World (Smither). Although Hearts of the World was filmed Europe, D.W. Griffith created, “ (a) straightforward propaganda after America entered the war” (Smither). As for Cecille B. Demille, not only did he produce The Little Americans (1917), but also My Fours years in Germany (1917), The Kaiser (1918), and The Best of Berlin (1918), which exuded American patriotism (Smither/Klawan). Actors also produced propaganda films at their own expense. Charlie Chaplin, beloved actor, created the film The Bond, from his own expense to promote the investment of Liberty Bonds in the Unites States (Smither). There were also well known celebrities publicly raising money for World War One (Smither). Douglas Fairbanks , Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin, all famous factors did their part to aid in the war. They led rallies to sell bonds and visited wounded soldiers (Smither). The philanthropic work done by these celebrities became an example as a dutiful citizen to do their part. The simple work of the celebrities become as another medium of propaganda to the United States’
Watching movies in the early twentieth century served as America’s convenient entertainment, but the American film industry also played as an important factor into the initiation of America as a dominant and thriving country. As much of Europe was in distress during World War One, the United States’ decision to stay neutral until the brink of the war (in 1917) allowed room for the American film industry to creatively expand cinema through propaganda films, short films, and newsreels. The idea of transferring propaganda posters onto the screen was an important move in order to integrate, “the fabric of American life by proving entertainment, information, …show more content…
The list of directors who opposed directing movies that demanded the theme of American neutrality by the United States film industry and government included infamous director Cecille B. DeMille’s, The Little American and another famous American director, D.W. Griffith’s Hearts of the World (Smither). Although Hearts of the World was filmed Europe, D.W. Griffith created, “ (a) straightforward propaganda after America entered the war” (Smither). As for Cecille B. Demille, not only did he produce The Little Americans (1917), but also My Fours years in Germany (1917), The Kaiser (1918), and The Best of Berlin (1918), which exuded American patriotism (Smither/Klawan). Actors also produced propaganda films at their own expense. Charlie Chaplin, beloved actor, created the film The Bond, from his own expense to promote the investment of Liberty Bonds in the Unites States (Smither). There were also well known celebrities publicly raising money for World War One (Smither). Douglas Fairbanks , Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin, all famous factors did their part to aid in the war. They led rallies to sell bonds and visited wounded soldiers (Smither). The philanthropic work done by these celebrities became an example as a dutiful citizen to do their part. The simple work of the celebrities become as another medium of propaganda to the United States’