Movies - WWII, Nuclear War, War On Terrorism

Cast: Carl Urbano

Plot Summary: Animated classic presenting what an atom is, how energy is released from certain kinds of atoms, the peacetime uses of atomic energy and the byproducts of nuclear fission.

Writing credits: True Boardman

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Cast: Lloyd Bentsen, W.H.P. Blandy, Owen Brewster, Frank Gallop, Lyndon Johnson, Maurice Joyce

Plot Summary: Disturbing collection of 1960s United States government issued propaganda films designed to reassure Americans that the atomic bomb was not a threat to their safety.

Memorable Quotes:

Army information film: When not close enough to be killed, the atomic bomb is one of the most beautiful sights in the world.

Civil defense film: Be sure to include tranquilizers to ease the strain and monotony of life in a fallout shelter. A bottle of 100 should be sufficient for a family of four. Tranquilizers are not a narcotic, and are not habit-forming.

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Cast: Claire Chennault, King George VI, Douglas MacArthur, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Joseph W. Stilwell

Plot Summary: The invention and use of a jeep are described, from the viewpoint of one of the vehicles. A jeep explains how it came to be invented, and the tasks that it is used for. When the United States went to war, its motorized divisions needed a new kind of vehicle, the jeep, which was designed by the automobile industry. After vigorous tests, the new vehicle has now proved useful and reliable. Designed to do everything from crossing rivers to towing artillery, the jeep is in use everyplace that the Army goes.

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Cast: Walter Huston (Narrator), Anthony Veiller (Narrator), Douglas Bader, Arno Breker, Winston Churchill, Hermann Göring, Adolf Hitler

Plot Summary: The official World War II US government account of Great Britain's stand against the Nazi war machine after the Dunkirk evacuation. In this installment of the "Why We Fight" propaganda film series, we have the account of Great Britain's last stand against the forces of Nazi Germany. This mainly focuses on the desperate, but successful, battle to maintain their vital air superiority over the British Isles and the morale of the people to prevent invasion.

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Cast: Claire Chennault, Kai-Shek Chiang, Madame Chiang, Winston Churchill, Teh Chu, Anthony Eden

Plot Summary: The Official World War II US Government account of Chinese defense against Japanese aggression. In this installment of the "Why We Fight" propaganda series, we learn about the country of China and its people. With a brief history of the country, we also learn of why the Japanese wanted to conquer it and felt confident about succeeding. Finally, the history of the war in that theatre is illustrated and shows the stiff determination of the Chinese who use all their resources to oppose Japanese aggression to the end.

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Cast: Donald Crisp (voice), Henry Fonda (voice), Jane Darwell (voice), Irving Pichel (voice), James Roosevelt

Plot Summary: The Japanese attack on Midway in June 1942, filmed as it happened. On June 4-6, 1942, a large Japanese force attempted to capture Midway Island in the North Pacific, but was defeated by U.S. forces with a loss ratio of 4:1 in favor of the Americans. On hand was a crew of naval photographers directed by John Ford; their documentary footage was edited together with narration by Hollywood actors. The film covers the attack on Midway, some limited aerial footage, the search for survivors, and aftermath of the battle.

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Cast: Ion Antonescu, Nikolai Cherkasov, Anthony Eden, Hermann Göring, Adolf Hitler, Miklós Horthy

Plot Summary: Documentary revealing the nature and process of the fight between the Soviet Union and Germany in the Second World War. In this installment of the "Why We Fight" propaganda series, we learn about the events on the Russian front of World War II. We learn about Russia's heroic resistance to invasion in the past and how those qualities were called upon in the current war. We also learn about Russian tenacity and their determination to win against the seemingly invincible forces of Nazi Germany in the bloodiest fighting of the war.


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Cast: Walter Huston, Harry Davenport, Dana Andrews, Paul Hurst, George O'Brien (voice), James Kevin McGuinness (voice)

Plot Summary: Documentary about the bombing of Pearl Habor on December 7th, 1941 and its results, the recovering of the ships, the improving of defense in Hawaii and the US effors to beat back the Japanese inforcements.

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Cast: Walter Huston (Narrator)

Plot Summary: In this episode of the Why We Fight propaganda series, the events from the English and French declarations of war against Nazi Germany to the conquest of France by the Nazi. In detail, we learn of how a combination of innovative Nazi military tactics and the work of traitors allowed the conquest of much of Central Europe.

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Cast: n.a.

Plot Summary: A grinning monkey sitting in a tree dangles a lit firecracker from a fishing pole just over the head of an unwary turtle. Realizing that an explosion is pending, the turtle ducks and takes cover inside his shell just in time to avoid immolation from the explosion. As the scene changes to a picnicking All-American Family, a voice-over explains that in order to survive a nuclear attack, one must duck and cover.

Writing credits: Ray J. Mauer

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Cast: Charles Boyer, Joseph J. Clark, Dixie Kiefer, Robert Taylor

Plot Summary: The film follows the WWII exploits of the Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) (unidentified in the film), in its first major operations following its commissioning in 1943. The life of the crew is documented from July 1943 to June 1944, from its passage through the Panama Canal through assaults on Marcus, Kwajalein, Truk and Tinian Islands, and culminating with the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Spectacular 16mm Kodachrome footage of combat operations and naval aviation is prominent throughout.

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Cast: Lee D. Vickers (Narrator)

Plot Summary: An informational film produced to encourage farmers to grow hemp for the war effort during WW2. The film details the many industrial uses of hemp, including cloth and cordage, as well as a detailed history of the plant's use.

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Cast: n.a.

Plot Summary: Atomic tests at the Nevada Proving Grounds (later the Nevada Test Site) show effects on well-kept homes, homes filled with trash and combustibles, and homes painted with reflective white paint. Asserts that cleanliness is an essential part of civil defense preparedness and that it increased survivability. Selected for the 2002 National Film Registry of "artistically, culturally, and socially significant" films.

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Cast: Robert Morgan, Vince Evans, Jacob L. Devers, Ira C. Eaker, Captain Vincent B. Evans, Haywood Hansell

Plot Summary: Documentary about the 25th and last bombing mission of a B17, the "Memphis Belle". The "Memphis Belle" took part in a great bombing raid on sub-pens in Wilhelmshafen, Germany. On their way they encounterd heavy AA fire and interceptors.

Also Known As: The Memphis Belle (USA)

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Cast: Walter Huston (Narrator), Anthony Veiller (Narrator)

Plot Summary: The official World War II US government account of Nazi international aggression leading up to the British and French declarations of war. In this installment of the Why We Fight propaganda film series, we see the events of Nazi Germany's diplomatic and military acts of international aggression. One by one, we learn of the Nazi's consistently underhanded and relenting violation of every promise of peace and exploitation of their foes's attempts of appeasement until the invasion of Poland September of 1939 which led to Britain and France finally taking an armed stand against Hitler.

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Cast: Adam Curtis, Sayyid Qutb, John Calvert, Leo Strauss, Harvey Mansfield, Stanley Rosen...

Plot Summary: A series of three documentaries about the use of fear for political gain.

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Cast: Narrators (voice): Walter Huston, Anthony Veiller

Plot Summary: The official World War II US Government film statement defining the various enemies of the Allies and why they must be fought.

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Cast: Dean Acheson, General Bergeret, A.A. Berle, Arno Breker, Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill

Plot Summary: Part VII of the "Why We Fight" series of wartime documentaries. This entry attempts to describe the factors leading up to America's entry into the Second World War.

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Plot Summary: Documentary examining the events which led up to the Second World War. A feature length motion picture presenting step-by-step the events which led up to Pearl Harbor and total war. History, filmed as it happened, shows the massacre of Ethiopia, the invasion of Austria and Czechoslovakia, the blitz of Poland, the tragic fall of France. Material was taken from secret government archives.

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Cast: n.a.

Plot Summary: Attempt to dispel many common myths and fallacies about radioactive fallout.

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