War Comes to America
War Comes to America
Part of seven part series, "Why We Fight"; produced by the Signal Corps and directed by Frank Capra. Narrated by Walter Huston. 67 mins. War comes to America. Focuses some on U.S. history & the events of the 1930s & early 1940's and the impact on the world, which slowly draws the U.S. into supporting the war on one side or the other culminating in betrayal by the Japanes & the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
War Comes to America
MCU/TLS/pan young white American children saying the Pledge of Allegiance to flag. (fighting overlaid) MS American soldiers using flamethrowers. MS seaplane landing. (New Guinea, Aleutian islands) MS airplane footage MS soldiers in Iceland, Burma, the Philippines & France. TLS soldiers parachuting from airplanes. MS soldiers in China & Italy. TLS/HA soldiers moving through charred forest. Montage soldiers over areas of United States. (New England, Midwest, etc, emphasizing origins) CU American soldiers' faces & VO talks about occupations. MS soldiers climbing down netting on side of a ship. MS going ashore in transport & wading in, explosions in distance. LS American soldiers, Marines coming up beach, some shot. MS statue of liberty. CU/pan Statue of liberty to torch.
War Comes to America
TLS ocean. Text, "1607, Jamestown," "1620 Plymouth Rock." LS cliffs & crashing waves. TLS forest. MS house, Church, watchtower. Dramatic footage. TLS citizens, people working in field. LS sky, "1775." MS statue. CU paining of James Otis, VO text quote, "Colonists are by the law of nature free-born, as indeed al men are! James Otis." CU statue of Thomas Jefferson, VO text quote, "It is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government...Thomas Jefferson." CU painting of Thomas Paine, VO text quote, "These are the times that try men's souls. Thomas Paine." CU statue of Patrick Henry, VO text quote, "but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" Dramatization of the fighting in the American Revolution. CU painting of signing of Declaration of independence, "July 4, 1776." CU document, text, VO "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal...life liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Dramatization of events at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777. MS American revolutionaries in snow. CU wrapping feet. CU painting of George Washington kneeling. Text, "1781." CU painting Washington on horse. Text, "the declaration of independence and the constitution of the United States of America." CU constitution, "We the people..." Montage paintings of early leaders & Presidents. MS liberty bell ringing, text, "Proclaim liberty throughout the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof."
War Comes to America
CU 13 star flag. CU map of 13 original colonies. TLS Dramatization of the movement westward; wagon trains, etc. CU map new states added. CU Modern U.S. flag overlaid. Aerial shot of Statue of liberty, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore and these, send these homeless, tempest-tost to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden dawn. CU painting or mural of immigrants & workers. CU dramatic footage of those who made up the land doing all kinds of work; English, Scotch, Dutch, Italian French, Swiss, Dane, Norwegian, Swedes, Poles, Welsh, Negro, Spaniard, Mexican, Greek, Portuguese, German, Hungarian, Russian, Irish, Slav, Chinese.
War Comes to America
Dramatic footage montage to 1940s. MS/MCU/CU people working as work gets more modern & country grows. Aerial view of New York city. TLS/pan a cemetery. MS people on city street. MS/MCU people working at various occupations. MCU inventions of Americans. TLS city buildings. TLS automobiles. TLS hospital. MS hospital work, people in hospital. MS young children. MS children walking to school, in school & running out. TLS school buildings. Text, "20%" of all soldiers in World War I had been in high school "63%" in World War II.
War Comes to America
TLS brief beach. MS people hunting & fishing. TLS sports scenes. (things Americans love) TLS/MS means of travel, scenery, sign, "Arizona Welcomes You." MS food stands. CU types of food & drink. MCU club symbols & insignias. CU people & their radios. Montage MS/MCU jukebox people dancing, listening to music, playing it. MS/MCU variety of printed word (magazines, books, newspapers) & churches (all denominations) emphasizing liberty & enterprise. MCU making alcohol in bathtub. Text
War Comes to America
Text, "Prohibition." MCU making alcohol in bathtub. Text, "Prohibition repealed." MS ticker tape machine falls off table. MCU young men walking. Aerial view of highways, buildings. MS people, men & woman going to work. MS/MCU people at church, church. TLS streets, beach. MS dead body, dead bodies floating in river. Text, "1917." MS artillery firing. TLS/HA/MCU U.S. troops man trenches in France in 1917 past camera. MS tanks firing. Text, "Armistice Day Nov 11, 1918." TLS/HA people in New York city celebrating, confetti falling, people dancing, waving flags. CU map of America, represent decrease in size of military. MS European & Asian city. Text, "1931." MS boys playing baseball. CU map of Manchuria w/Japanese bayonet jabbed in. TLS Japanese soldiers moving, fire in BG. MS/MCU Manchurians tied up. CU newspaper headline, "Stimson Denounces Japanese Aggression." CU HENRY STIMSON speaking. CU headline, "Bonus March on Washington." MS bonus march, breadlines, drive by (drama), dust, exile, shacks.
War Comes to America
Text, "1933." CU Newspaper headline, "Hitler in Power, made German chancellor." TLS march in German w/Nazi, swastika flags, "Heil Hitler" in lights. TLS/MS military display in Berlin. Text, "Today we rule Germany tomorrow the world." TLS/HA military display. MS ADOLPH HITLER. Text, "1935." MS young man sitting in chair. CU headline, "Mussolini attacks Ethiopia." LS airplanes. MS bombs being dropped. TLS Ethiopians running. MS Ethiopian soldiers moving out. MS Ethiopians fleeing. TLS White House, senate floor. CU Senator HIRAM JOHNSON speaks for the Neutrality Act of 1935, "We want no war, we'll have no war, ...saving defense for our own or our own honor." Text, "Neutrality Acts No Arms for Sale to nations at war." CU North America w/sign reading "No Arms for Sale." Text, "1934" MS young boy in car drives away from others. MS theater screen reads "Civil War in Spain Global News." MS artillery fire. MS street fighting. LS German planes, luftwaffe bomb cities, & street fights flare during Spanish Civil War. TLS people on ground running. TLS destroyed buildings. MS men picking up a dead child. MS Spanish people running, walking through rubble. MCU Spanish people crying. MS ADOLPH HITLER shakes hands w/FRANCISCO FRANCO. MCU sign, "The American Institute of Public Opinion." (Gallup Poll) MS men at table. MS various Americans. Text VO, "November 1936 If another world war develops in Europe should America take part again. No 95%." CU various Americans saying no. CU amendment to Neutrality acts, "Cash & Carry raw materials only but come and get them. CU map illustrating the process.
War Comes to America
Text, "1937." MS press working. CU typewriter, "Flash Shanghai Japanese launch all out China war intensive fighting and bombing..." LS Japanese naval ship w/flag, airplanes in BG. (rising sun) MS dropping bombs. LS explosions in distance. MS Chinese people running for cover. LS explosions in city. MS/MCU gathering the dead. MS American people being interviewed. (another Gallup poll) Text, "September 1937 In the present fight between Japan And China are your sympathies with either side?" 43% w/China & 2% w/Japan 55% undecided. MCU man reading paper, reads, "Bomb Canton." TLS shipyard work. (scrap iron & oil still sold because Japan didn't "Declare war.") Text, "March 1938." MS/MCU Adolph Hitler speaking to soldiers. MCU map of Europe w/Swastika & silhouette of "goose-stepping" Nazis. Text, "September 1938." MS/CU man grasp newspaper, headline, "Powers sign Munich pact." MS signing the pact. MCU map taking Sudetenland, Czech-Slovakia. MCU Hitler on automobile saluting. MS American man selling newspapers, "Nazi spy gang arrested." MCU people in theater watching footage of Nazi espionage & crimes, "Confessions of a Nazi spy." MS/MCU fictional dramatization of Hitler. MS/MCU German Americans sympathetic to Hitler marching w/Swastika/Nazi flag. MS meeting in "Madison Square Garden" saying pledge w/outstretched arms. CU "Newsweek" w/Hitler & Mussolini on cover. Montage of German military machine. CU "Life," magazine cover, young boy w/rifle. Montage Japanese creating war materials. MS marching.
War Comes to America
Text VO, "We have actually been at war since the day when we lifted the flag of our revolution against the democratic world. Benito Mussolini," Coliseum in BG. MS Benito Mussolini saluting w/ statue of Julius Caesar in BG. Text VO, "The Germans are a noble and unique race to whom the earth was given by the grace of God. Adolph Hitler, Mein Kampf page 827." MS Hitler. Text, VO "The world must come to look up to our emperor as the great ruler of all nations, ...Premier of Japan." MS/MCU Japanese saluting emperor. Montage of cheering crowds, MCU image of Hitler, Mussolini & Hirohitio. MCU Statue of Liberty, Text, "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal." Montage, freedom of speech, religion. MS Lincoln memorial. MCU axis leaders, Hitler, Mussolini & Hirohito. MS American people interviewed, "December 1938 Should the United States increase the strength of its Army, Navy and Air force, yes 85%." Text, "Military Affairs Committee House of Representatives." MS/MCU Rep. Andrew J. May urges arming before the House Military Affairs Committee. Sec. of the Navy Charles Edison asks the Naval Affairs Committee for funds. Text, U.S. Military Budget 1&1/2 billion 1939, (largest in peacetime up to that point, 1943 much larger) 81 billion." Text. "March 14th 1939." CU map of Europe Germany takes the rest of Czech-Slovakia. CU smiling Hitler. Text, "April 7th 1939." (good Friday) MS churches. MS American man selling paper, "Italy attacks Albania." TLS Italian ships firing. MS Italian Army marching into city. MS more soldiers (German & Italian) troop marching. MCU FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT at desk. (asking Hitler & Mussolini to respect independence) TLS Hitler ridicules FDR's peace proposal before the Reichstag.
War Comes to America
Text, September 1 1939." CU newspaper headline, "Poland invaded." TLS/MS artillery firing, German soldiers moving ahead. LS "Warsaw" being bombed. MCU people looking at sign, "Wojima, War." TLS people hurrying through the streets. MS/LS bombing. MS German soldiers on ground fighting. MS/MCU Polish dead lined up, people look on, baby crying. MS Americans listening on the radio to the news. Text, "London September 3rd 1939." MCU NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN at desk. CU sign, "Imminent peril of war Premier." MS/MCU British working, trying on gas masks, putting gas mask on a baby. MS British soldiers marching. MS husband & wife listening to radio in bed. MS French soldiers in the Maginot line. MS artillery firing. Another poll, "September 1939 What country do you consider responsible for causing this war? Germany 82%." TLS President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the Senate floor. (requests Congress to amend neutrality laws) CU Senators Gerald P. Nye and Elbert D. Thomas voice opposing views. Another Gallup poll, "October 1939 Should we change the neutrality act so we can sell war supplies? Yes 57 %."
War Comes to America
CU text, "Arms embargo repealed arms for sale but come and get them." CU map diagram of the cash & carry of arms. CU map of China. MS Japanese soldiers firing artillery. LS explosion in distance. TLS/MS fleeing Chinese. MS Japanese soldier executing a Chinese man. MS dead Chinese children, one crying. Another old poll, "September 1937 In the Present fight between Japan and China are your sympathies with either side? 43% w/China," most undecided, "June 1939 74% w/China." MS Americans carrying signs, "Embargo Japan." MCU sign, "Mr. Acheson Assistant Secretary of State." (Dean Acheson) MCU Dean Acheson speaking, sums up arms embargo legislation. Text, "April 9 1940." MS Hitler & Nazi leaders looking at a map. CU Maps Nazi aggression in Western Europe. Text, "May 10th." MS refugees fleeing. (clog French roads) MS/MCU American people listening to news on radio. MCU man reading paper, "Italy enters war." MCU Franklin D. Roosevelt denounces Italy's entry into the war.
War Comes to America
Text, "June 22nd 1940." MS/MCU people listening to the news on the radio. MS Hitler, Goring, and Adm. Doenitz, receive the French surrender, Nazis parade through Paris. Hitler near Eiffel tower. CU Map of France stamped w/Swastika. MS German soldier firing artillery. MCU map of distant German holdings. Text, "Brazil." (emphasizes large German population going about their business; men, women & children) MCU German publications, newspapers. (emphasize Japanese presence) CU map of South America focus on strategic position of Ecuador. (to bomb Panama canal) MS German airplanes in Ecuador fitted to carry bombs. Text, "Argentina." MS/MCU German athletic clubs. (emphasizes these places as fifth columns)
War Comes to America
Text, "Havana Conference For the Defense of the Americas..." MCU Sec. of State CORDELL HULL asks hemispheric solidarity at Havana in 1940. CU map of Western Hemisphere w/barrier &"Keep Out," sign. MS Franklin Delano Roosevelt giving a speech asking Congress for military funds, National Guard units. MS Navy ship construction. CU map of United States, "Army, Navy, Air Force, 330,300." (total) MS training w/fake equipment. (pipes for guns, flour bags for bombs, trucks w/tank label) MS of actual military equipment. MS National Guard marching. MS FDR reading serial number of draftee, "158." MS man takes off hat & walks off. (his number) MCU more numbers. MS more men, reading, leaving family or job. MCU man putting sign in window, "Closing up drafted call for laundry 225 Washington Street." MS young men getting physicals, taking oath. MS marching down the street, young man holds sing, "Goodbye Philly Hello Ft. Meade," MS in uniform, marching w/rifles.
War Comes to America
MS German airplanes, Luftwaffe taxing down runway. CU map German planes attacking Britain. MCU EDWARD R. MURROW reports during a London air raid. MS German airplanes & anti-aircraft guns firing. MCU sign, "Public Air raid shelter 300 persons." MS British people in shelter. MS/MCU fire & trying to put it out. MCU "Main Street," (U.S.A.) MCU people looking at photos of bombed London. TLS British ships, overlay Swastika. LS old U.S. Destroyers. MS Churchill signing for the ships. CU map we receive bases in Caribbean, (wall to protect Panama canal) Text, "Berlin." MS Adolph Hitler meeting w/Japanese diplomats. (Axis powers sign the Axis Pact, Berlin Pact in 1940) MCU sign, "Mr. Berle Assisatant Secretary of State" speaking of the alliance between Germany, Italy & Japan. MCU signing pact. (Saburo Kurusu, Joachim von RIBBENTROP, Ciamo. TLS/MS celebrating in Tokyo, Rome & Berlin. TLS/MS bombing of Britain. LS London burning.
War Comes to America
MCU CHARLES A. LINDBERGH pleads isolationism, "to fight the propaganda and confusion of recent months, it is now obvious that England is losing the war." MCU Wendell Willkie speaking, aid for England, "England will not only survive, England will win." MS cleanup of London, man picks up a mannequin, others small British flags. MA another poll, "January 1941 Should we keep out of war or aid Britain...even at the risk of war? 68% aid Britain." CU diagram explaining the few who supported war in 1936 & the many who support it in 1941. MCU FDR speaks to Congress on lend-lease. CU map diagramming program. MS war materials. Text, "Lend-:Lease Act passed House 317 to 71, Senate 60 to 31," "Lend Lease arms for those fighting aggression..." Text, "April 6 1941." CU map continued German expansion. Text, "June 22." CU map Germans invade Soviet Russia. MS Germans soldiers & equipment moving ahead, firing artillery. TLS civilians digging ditches. CU map Lend lease expands. MS loading & unloading ships. MS trucks moving in China. MCU side of truck says, "Hammer & Sickle 'em." LS Trucks as far as the eye could see & other materials. MS groups moving materials, unloading lend lease equipment. Hitler speaking VO text, "Two worlds are in conflict...two philosophies of life...one of these two worlds must break asunder. Adolph Hitler." MS statue of liberty. CU map of United States w/"?" CU map German Swastika (axis) stamped on Britain, Russia, China.
War Comes to America
CU world map, "2 billion of people in the world," the axis would rule 1/4th plus industry, plus Russia would make even more. CU map of Japanese control added. CU map north and south America left w/3/10 of raw materials, 30 million men to 200 million. (also goes into industry, people etc) CU map of North America, "No arms for sale." ("no" crossed out) LS places aid sent. CU maps U.S. in Greenland & Iceland. MS getting on ships. CU map explaining the strategic position of Greenland & Iceland. MS Germans (Kriegsmarine) working on submarines/u-boats, unterseeboot. (unrestricted submarine warfare) LS ship being hit/explosion. CU newspaper headlines, "U-boat attack." (etc) CU American flag floating in the water. .." (Stimson and Willkie asking that merchant ships be armed) MCU Secretary of War HENRY STIMSON speaking, "If today... Navy should make secure the seas for the delivery of our munitions to Great Britain it will render as great a service to our country and to the preservation of American freedom as it has ever rendered in all its glorious history." MS WENDELL WILLKIE speaking, "We want those cargoes protected." Text, "Neutrality Act repealed we deliver arms to those fighting aggression." MS merchant ships being armed.
War Comes to America
MCU map of Southeast Asia, Japan spreading to Indochina. MS Japanese soldiers occupying Indochina. CU map outlines threats to Japan. (Russia & the U.S.) CU map Nazis, German army approaching Moscow. CU north America Japanese knife stabbed in it. Text, "November 14th 1941." MS Saburo Kurusu getting off an airplane. MCU Kurusu speaking, VO "The Japanese were a peace loving people...all they want is peace. Text, "November 17th 1941." MS/MCU Kurusu & ADMIRAL NOMURA at White House w/Sec of State Cordell Hull in Washington D.C. MS more Japanese soldiers fighting, firing artillery. Text, "November 26th 1941." MCU Sec. of State Cordell Hull sums up Japan's conditions for peace, Kurusu & Nomura leaving. LS Japanese ships & planes. Text, "December 7th 1941." MS Japanese pilots listening. MCU getting in planes. MS taking off.