Why We Fight:
Frank Capra and “…the
best damn documentary
films ever made.”
Shannon
Weiss
A Brief Background
Seven-part film series:
Prelude to War
The Nazis Strike
Divide and Conquer
The Battle of Britain
The Battle of Russia
The Battle of China
War Comes to America
Research Question
Were Frank Capra’s
documentary films one of
the pioneer creations in
United States propaganda
filmmaking?
The Inspiration
Triumph of the Will:
Leni Riefenstahl
1934 Nazi Party
Congress in Nuremberg
Nazi Propaganda
This film “…fired no
gun, dropped no
bombs. But as a
psychological weapon
aimed at destroying the
will to resist, it was just
as lethal.”
- Frank Capra
Propaganda Techniques
Racial stereotyping to
create a strong sense of
good vs. evil
Presenting fiction-as-fact
Propaganda Techniques, cont.
Sweeping generalizations
Incorporating different
media elements:
Animation
Newsreel footage
Production footage
Symbol of the American
Mindset of World War II
Propaganda techniques evidence of a racially-charged
American society:
Racial stereotyping
Direct contrast between good and evil
Historical Relevance
Laid the groundwork for future
wartime propaganda films
Propaganda films implemented in
Vietnam War:
Why Vietnam?
The Unique War
Vietnamese Village Reborn
Conclusions
Why We Fight one of pioneer
propaganda film series in the U.S.
during World War II
Used new propaganda
techniques
Shown throughout the Allied
world
Paved way for future U.S.
propaganda films
Sources:
Capra, Frank. The Name Above the Title.
Footage from Why We Fight and Triumph of the Will.
Fyne, Robert. The Hollywood Propaganda of World War II.
 German, Kathleen M. “Frank Capra’s Why We Fight Series and the
American Audience.”
Koppes, Clayton R., and Gregory D. Black. Hollywood Goes to War:
How Politics, Profits and Propaganda Shaped World War II Movies.
Springer, Claudia. “Military Propaganda: Defense Department
Films from World War II and Vietnam.”