Why We Fight: Prelude to War poster

Why We Fight: Prelude to War( 1942)

TV-MADocumentaryWar
64%
User
Score

The US government puts the finger on the United Nations' enemies

Overview

Prelude to War was the first film of Frank Capra's Why We Fight propaganda film series, commissioned by the Pentagon and George C. Marshall. It was made to convince American troops of the necessity of combating the Axis Powers during World War II. This film examines the differences between democratic and fascist states.

    Top Billed Cast

    1. cast image

      Walter Huston

      Self - Narrator (voice)

    2. cast image

      Max Schmeling

      Self - German paratrooper (archive footage)

    3. cast image

      Adolf Hitler

      Self

    Social

    Review 1Discussion

    A review by CinemaSerf

    6
    Written by CinemaSerf on Sun Oct 26 2025
    Crafted by Frank Capra at the instigation of General Marshall, this is a bit more sophisticated that the usual propaganda exercise Hollywood produced following the raid on Pearl Harbour. This time it uses an effective array of archive to not so much extol the virtues of the great American war machine as to chronologically vilify the axis powers. There’s not so much actual footage of the Emperor but they still manage to illustrate the processes of Japanese expansion through Korea, Manchuria and eventually Shanghai. Mussolini and Hitler provide much more fertile territory for the filmmakers as th...

    Media

    Videos 0Backdrops 1Posters 11

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    Facts

    Status

    Released

    Original Language

    English

    Budget

    -

    Revenue

    -

    Keywords

    • world war ii