Celluloid Soldiers : Warner Bros. Campaign Against Nazism, 1934-1941

During the 1930s many Americans avoided thinking about war erupting in Europe, believing it of little relevance to their own lives. Yet, the Warner Bros. film studio embarked on a virtual crusade to alert Americans to the growing menace of Nazism.Polish-Jewish immigrants Harry and Jack Warner risked both reputation and fortune to inform the American public of the insidious threat Hitler's regime posed throughout the world. Through a score of films produced during the 1930s and early 1940s-including the pivotalSergeant York-the Warner Bros. studio marshaled its forces to influence the American conscience and push toward intervention in World War II.Celluloid Soldiersoffers a compelling historical look at Warner Bros.'s efforts as the only major studio to promote anti-Nazi activity before the outbreak of the Second World War.

Michael E. Birdwell is an assistant professor of history at Tennessee Technological University.