Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"The Nazis Strike" is an American black-and-white documentary from 1943, so this one has its 75th anniversary next year and it summarizes basically the events that led to Britain's declaration of war against Nazi Germany. There is some focus on Nazi movements outside Germany too, some focus on Hitler's tactics and how he tried to unsuccessfully avoid a war at two fronts, and raw uncensored footage showing the evils of war. It is original footage from start to finish and the names who made this were actually among America's most successful filmmakers, such as multiple Oscar winner Frank Capra or multiple Oscar nominee Anatole Litvak. The script is a combination by the writers of Casablanca and Lassie. Quite a mix huh? But I am not surprised it is a successful film and still very well-known today so long after its release. It is a fairly decent summary of the political events going on back then, maybe nothing to impress historians or teach them anything new, but everybody with an interest in the years of World War II and not just the American involvement can give it a go. Then again, this is 100% propaganda, so it is actually all about the American involvement. You know what I mean. The significance of this work is also shown by the fact that it got introduced in the National Film Registry. Go watch these 41 minutes. I'm sure you won't be disappointed, unless you really don#t care about the subject at all.
oscar-35
*Spoiler/plot- 1943, A documentary showing the condition and context of the world that allowed the world's aggressors to take a stronghold and keep it until world war arrived to change that injustice.*Special Stars- Director: Frank Capra *Theme- National Socialism or Natzis are not to be trusted.*Trivia/location/goofs- The second film in Frank Capra's 'Why We fight" series.*Emotion- An enjoyable documentary made up of live action combat or newsreel footage. However, there are the unpleasant shots of injured Americans and killed Germans. But it is extremely educational and does what a narrative simulated war film can do.
Cosmoeticadotcom
There has been a political documentary, of recent vintage, called Why We Fight, which tries to examine the infamous Military Industrial Complex and its grip on this nation. It is considered both polemical and incisive in making its case against both that complex and the war fiasco we are currently involved in in Iraq. Yet, a far more famous series of films, with the same name, was made during World War Two, by Hollywood director Frank Capra. Although considered documentaries, and having won Oscars in that category, this series of seven films is really and truly mere agitprop, more in the vein of Leni Reifenstal's Triumph Of The Will, scenes of which Capra recycles for his own purposes. That said, that fact does not mean it does not have vital information that subsequent generations of World War Two documentaries (such as the BBC's lauded The World At War) lacked, nor does that mean that its value as a primary source is any the less valuable. They are skillfully made, and after recently purchasing some used DVDs at a discount store, I found myself with the opportunity to select a free DVD with my purchase. I chose Goodtimes DVD's four DVD collection of the series.Rarely has something free been so worth invaluable. While there are no extras on the DVDs, and the sound quality of the prints varies, these films provide insight into the minds of Americans two thirds of a century ago, when racism was overt (as in many of the classic Warner Brothers pro-war cartoons of the era), and there was nothing wrong with blatant distortion of facts. The seven films, produced between 1942 and 1945, are Prelude To War, The Nazis Strike, Divide And Conquer, The Battle Of Britain, The Battle Of Russia, The Battle Of China, and War Comes To America.Overall, the film series is well worth watching, not only for the obvious reasons, but for the subtle things it reveals, such as the use of the plural for terms like X millions when referring to dollars, rather than the modern singular, or the most overused graphic in the whole series- a Japanese sword piercing the center of Manchuria. Yet, it also shows the complexities of trying to apply past standards to current wars. The lesson of World War One (avoid foreign entanglements) was not applicable to World War Two, whose own lesson (act early against dictatorships) has not been applicable in the three major wars America has fought since: Korea, Vietnam, nor Iraq. The fact that much of this series teeters on the uncertainties of the times it was made in only underscores its historic value in today's information-clogged times. It may not help you sort out the truth from the lies and propaganda of today, but at least you'll realize you are not the first to be in such a tenuous position, nor will you be the last.
mermatt
Frank Capra did a masterful job taking the propaganda tool of the Nazis and turning it against them. He devised the simple but effective means of taking captured Nazi propaganda newsreels and showing them with new narration and with music. The result -- showing the Nazi horror for what it was.The WHY WE FIGHT series of 7 films is still very powerful and moving. We can only imagine how rousing the material was in the dark days of World War II when it was shown to the US troops in battle zones.The difference between Capra's propaganda and Hitler's is that Capra used the tool to teach ideals rather than to seduce and entrance the minds of people. Capra's films were just as strong ammunition as and tanks and planes, and they are remarkably durable after all these years. They still stand for the ideals of democracy. Such is the art of a master moviemaker.
