As men headed off to fight against the Nazis, so did Hollywood.
At the Hillsdale College Center for Constructive Alternatives lecture on March 5, John Marini, professor of political science at University of Nevada, Reno, described the dedication of John Ford, who filmed battles of World War II. Marini wrote several books on American politics and in 2009 published his book “Print the Legend: Politics, Culture, and Civic Virtue in the Films of John Ford.”
In 1939, Ford began to plan the documentary effort for the World War II. Marini detailed how Ford wanted these films to show what actually happened.
“Ford gave his raw film to his editor Robert Parish,” Marini said. “He was concerned that the government would edit the film to show something else.”
Ford also wanted to give the mothers of the soldiers a film. He hoped that this would provide them with a better knowledge of what their children were fighting for.
With this idea, Ford approached the White House. Marini said after showing the film to President Roosevelt and the first lady, Eleanor was crying and Roosevelt approved the project.
Marini not only described the documentary films that Ford worked on, but also the process for “They Were Expendable,” the movie CCA attendees viewed before Marini’s speech.
In 1945, Ford approached MGM Studios and asked for the highest salary a director had received. Ford later used this salary to buy eight acres of land for the men who served under him in World War II.
As a promise to the studio, Ford placed John Wayne in a leading role to depict American efforts in the Pacific.
Marini said Ford carefully considered the Dec. 7, 1945, premier date for “They were Expendable,” since it was the four year anniversary for Pearl Harbor.
Ford did not want the movie to end with a typical happy ending. He wanted to show that not every part of the war had the romantic kiss at the end. Marini also mentioned that Ford was not a big fan of those endings.
Marini said Ford understood what we were losing and aware of the price of war.
The speech ended with the conclusion of Ford’s career. Marini explained how Ford was hated by Hollywood for years because of his desire to preserve the virtues of Western civilization.
In his closing words, Marini gave a quote from President Richard Nixon to describe Ford’s dedication to filming the truth.
“John Ford represents the best in American Films,” Nixon said.
