Victory Theater: Hollywood And World War II

Rita Hayworth. Bette Davis. Jimmy Stewart. Clark Gable. Marlene Dietrich. These classic movie stars found themselves cast in new roles after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. WWII affected all Americans, including stars. They enlisted, entertained or danced with soldiers at the Stage Door Canteen. Today, the War continues to capture our imaginations with stars like Tom Hanks and Brad Pitt in wartime roles. Watch, discuss and read about the Dream Factory at war.

5.4.09

Superman's Japan Smack Down

Disney and Warner Bros. weren't the only studios to turn their cartoon characters against the Axis. Paramount Pictures enlisted Superman to battle dastardly Japan. Here he is in 1942 Yokohama sabotaging their ship building effort. The Japanese are rendered as racial stereotypes - outrageous to us today - but accepted then in the heat of war. Lois Lane is, as usual, in the thick of things. Warner Brothers is releasing the Superman collection from the war years on DVD soon.