Film content during the 930s was the start of the golden age in American cinema due to the introduction of sound and colour rolling into the screens of new blockbusters. the American culture was being uplifted towards motion pictures after the working class was the main demographic to cinema and the first daily newspaper for the film industry had its debut in 930, The Hollywood Reporter. However, film content would ultimately change during the out break of war to focus on the war effort. Film content began to showcase numerous war related films to entice the American public with the reality of war being abrupt and realism to set in. this best quoted by author Lewis Jacobs in his book world war 2 and American film when he states until 942,most Hollywood movies were escapist entertainment, which aimed to distract the spellbound public from agonizing radio and newspaper reports about the axis partners expansion in Europe. one such film being Casablanca (942) which would be regarded as one of the best films ever made. Directed by Michael Curtiz bought some quintessential themes throughout the film. The most important being Neutrality which is codified in Rick BlaineΒs attempts to remain politically neutral become increasingly futile as the film goes on. As ilsa and Laszlos bring the conflict to Ricks attention, he has the option to help or stay neutral and of course helps the couple. This protagonist of ricks character is juxtaposing to the American intervention into mainland Europe and the Pacific. This then coordinates with the theme of sacrifice with Ricks character as he is seen as an isolationist and is quoted by saying I stick my neck ou
t for nobody however due to his love for Ilsa opens his heart and unlocks his heroic nature. His love for Ilsa is seen as Americas love for democracy and anti-fascism.
After the attack on pearl harbour president franklin Roosevelt focused his attention on Hollywood claiming that motion picture was the most effective medium of informing the nation. Claiming of a no government intervention on the production of films, by June 942 after some bureaucratic reshuffle the office of war information (IWO) was formed to be the watchdog on film media and output. A major film company that ratified its content to engage the war effort was Disney which saw an influx of iconic cartoon characters being placed in war scenarios. The U.S government looked to Walt Disney more than any other studio chief as a builder of public morale providing instruction and training for sailors and soldiers. Disney was and still is a staple of American culture which changed its content from playful and slapstick antics to then propaganda and dark humour portrayal. One such film titled Donald Duck goes to war (944) which shows him learning how to fight efficiently in the Asian pacific. Another is der FuehrerΒs Face (943) which portrays Donald in Nazi land being worked to death and his life being dictated by Hitler. The main theme of this film is demonization of the enemy but also glorification of the U.S mainland and of its democratic ideology. The U.S government green lighted the use of anti-German and anti-Japanese themes to portray these countries and their leaders as manipulative without morals whilst keeping the humoristic traits which were stapled into Disneys animation.