World War II: English Movie Studios


Figure 1.--.

Hollywood films of course dominated the American film market. British films were also widely circulated in America. England had one of the world's most important film industries at the time of World War II. Although not quite up to Hollywood in box-office appeal, studios like Ealing made many important films. Film studios including German studios made anti-war films in the 1920s. We are unsure as to just when the studios began to change in the 1930s. As far as we can tell, the studios did not change until the outbreak of the War. It is interesting, that British studios also refrained from attacking the NAZIs. This of course reflected the appeasement policies of the Chamberlain Government. We do not know if the British Government actively tried to influence studio productions. British law did not permit the Government to issue orders, but the Government certainly could influence the studios in a variety of ways. Earnings from runs in German theaters may have been another factor. We know that the British made many important films during the war. The best know British anti-NAZI films are all war-time films. The best known is probably "Mrs. Minerva" (England, 1942) which won as Oskar. Another war-time film was "The Pied Piper (England (1942). After the War began of course censorship and war acts gave the Government the ability to control film content. This was not the case before the War.

British Pre-War Films (1920s-30s)

We have little information about British films made before the War. Hollywood films of course dominated the American film market. British films were also widely circulated in America. We are less sure to what extent they were curcukated in Germany. After the NAZI take over this would have been cotrolled by Propaganda Minister Josef Goebbels who had apecial interest in movies. Earnings from runs in German theaters may have been another factor. England had one of the world's most important film industries. at the time of World War II. Although not quite up to Hollywood in box-office appeal, studios like Ealing made many important films. British film studios including German studios made anti-war films in the 1920s. We are unsure as to just when the studios began to change in the 1930s after the rise of the NAZIs As far as we can tell, the studios did not change until the outbreak of the War. Hitler and the NAZIs seized power in 1933. British newspapers followed developments in Germany and the rise of German military power. This does not seem to have been reflected in actual British films. Here we need more informtion. Hopefully our British readers can provide more information on actual British films. As far as we can tell anti-NAZI sentiment does not seem to have been reflected in the British films made during the 1930s. A British reader suggests having a look at these films: Hitchcock's "Sabotage" (1936) and Korder's "The Lion Has Wings" (1939). "Sabatoge" was about terrorism, but it was not an anti-NAZI film. The political orientation of the saboteurs are not clearly developed, but the suggestionn is more Communist thn NAZI. The plotters are foreign, but have more of a Communist than a NAZI feel about them. It is interesting, that British studios also refrained from attacking the NAZIs, but therecwere some films with defenite anti-German plots. This of course reflected the appeasement policies of the Chamberlain Government. We do not know if the British Government actively tried to influence studio productions. British law did not permit the Government to issue orders, but the Government certainly could influence the studios in a variety of ways. In all these films, there is nothing about German rearmame, violations of te Versailles Peace treaty, supression of civil liberties, preparing youth for war, concentration camps, race obsession, euthenasia, supression of the Czech people, or other aspects which we are all too familar today.

War in Asia (1937)

Japan's invasion of Mamchuria did not result in hostilities with China. China simply did not have the forces needed to oppose the Japanese. Japan invaded China proper in 1937 which did result in open hostilities. Although China could not match the Japanese, they had no choice, but to resist. The result was the fall of major Chinese cities to Japan. This culminated in the seizure of the Chinese capital, Namking. The Japanes "Rape of Nanking" srands as one of the great attrocities of World War II, although the beginning of the Japanese-Chinese war occurred before the advenbt of war in Europe. I recall several films dealing with China and Japan, but these were American films. I do not know of any British films.

War in Europe (1939-45)

NAZI Germany initiated World War II with the Gedrman invasion of Poland (September 1939). The Soviet Union was at first allied with Germany, although Britain and France did not declare war on the Soviets. This is important in film making, because the Communists and left-oriented parties and writers were reluctant to crticise the Soviets and their aggressions and even the Germans because of the NAZI-Soviet alliance. This did not affect British film making, because the Labour Party was staunchly anti-NAZI. It was more of a factor in America. Britain soon found itself alone after the fall of France. The War did not take on its final shape until the Germans invaded the Soviet Union and Amnerica entered the War (1941). After this the left-wing resumed its staunchly anti-NAZI stance.

British War-time Films (1940-45)

Once the War began of course the British studios churned out many important anti-NAZI films. One of the first was Carol Reed's "Night train to Munich" (1940). In addition to Hollywood films made after ther start of the War in Europe, Here we are especially interested in the films that include children in the plot. British films were also ewidely circulated in America. The best know is probably "Mrs Minerva" (England, 1942). Another film was "The Pied Piper (England (1942). Another film is "Went the Day Well" (1942).

Government Censorship

British film studios were private companies. Thus the British Government could not control the political content of the films before the War in the same way the NAZIs and Soviets could. We suspect, however, that the Government was not without influence. Here we need more information, but suspect that the Governmet's Apeasement policy had some impact. Once the War began, the Government was given extrodinary powers and could control the content of movies. Just what the laws and regulations were we do not yet know.

Soviet Aggressions (1939-41)

It is interesting to note how Hollywood ignored the Soviet aggressions. The beginnings of World war II almost always focus on the NAZI invasion and attrocities. In fact there were two counties that invadsed Poland. Two weeks after the NAZI invasion, the Soviets invaded from the east. Not only did the Soviets invade Poland, but Soviet attriocities in Poland werre also unimasginable. The NAZI invasion was in fact made possible by the NAZI-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (August 1939). This made Hitler and Stalin essentially allies. The Sovierts proceeded withj actions against Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Romania. The strartling fact is that Hollywold compleletly ignored the fact that Stlalin allied himself with Hitler and that the Soviets invaded not only Poland, but other neigboring countries. I am not sure why this was. Of course the Allies (Btitain and France) also ignored the Soviet aggressions. The silence from Hollywood does suggest a ledft-wing bias.

America Enters the War (1941-45)

After Pearl Harbor, of course, Hollywood enthusiastically signed up for the war effort. There were also a many war related films made after the War anout the war era. These include many of the best known films about the war. .

Post-War Films

I'm not sure how British studios dealt with the post-war era. This is aittle complicated. There are many films made bout the War after the War during the post-War period, bt they ,ostly deal with the War era. Very few films actually deal with the post-War era that actually delt with the war aftermath. Most of the post-War films deal with the much more exciting War era. And as a result most of the World war II films we are most familar with are the big budget films made after the war. This includes film made by both British and American studios. Of course the American films focus mostly on the American side, often corupting the history. The American-British alliance was so extensive and important that it is diffucult to make a film about about the War in Europe, once America entered it without dealign with both America entered it. One of the best British films is the 'Battle of Britain' (1969) dealing with Hitler's first defeat and a rare British victory without the Americans. Another excellent film is 'Hope and Glory' (1987) about the home front. Some of the best American films with have a British component are 'The longest Say', 'Patton', and 'A brige too Far'. The exception of course is a film about a small unit. Any larger view film treatment almost always touch upon allies in some way.






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Created: 1:47 AM 1/8/2005
Last updated: 8:43 PM 12/30/2015