M.B.B. Biskupski Hollywood's War with Poland, 1939-1945

Annotation

';This passionate, carefully researched, richly detailed, well-written study' reveals the political motives behind WWII Hollywood's portrayal of Poles (Choice). During World War II, Hollywood studios supported the war effort by making patriotic movies designed to raise the nations morale. Often the characterizations were as black and white as the movies themselves: Americans and their allies were heroes, while everyone else was a villain. The peoples of Norway, France, Czechoslovakia, and England were all good because they had been invaded or victimized by Nazi Germany. Yet Polandthe first country to be invaded by the Third Reichwas repeatedly represented in a negative light. In this prize-winning study, Polish historian M. B. B. Biskupski explores why. Biskupski presents a close critical study of prewar and wartime films such as To Be or Not to Be, In Our Time, and None Shall Escape. Through memoirs, letters, diaries, and memoranda written by screenwriters, directors, studio heads, and actors, Biskupski examines how the political climate, and especially pro-Soviet sentiment, influenced Hollywood films of the time. Winner of the Oscar Halecki PrizeA Choice Outstanding Academic Title