Hollywood Goes to War

Early in 1942, Hollywood released its first patriotism-building, morale-boosting movies. Produced in close collaboration with the U.S. Office of War Information, the films pitted heroic Americans against villainous Nazis and fanatical Japanese, and depicted a home front united for victory. Screen stars like Clark Gable joined the armed forces. Many others served in special movie units as the hosts of training films. And Hollywood’s top directors made motivational pictures for troops. Meanwhile, movie stars like Betty Grable posed for pinups and promoted war bonds and scrap drives.