tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post5757849141443632668..comments2024-03-25T06:50:31.379-05:00Comments on The War Movie Buff: Day 9 - The Fighting Seabees (1944)War Movie Buffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-87876160011308121382020-05-05T13:56:01.553-05:002020-05-05T13:56:01.553-05:00Thanks for the kind words! I've kept off of Fa...Thanks for the kind words! I've kept off of Facebook but I've really enjoyed your blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-62179353799675546172020-04-30T20:33:40.285-05:002020-04-30T20:33:40.285-05:00Great stuff. I love that list! You should consid...Great stuff. I love that list! You should consider joining War Movie Lovers Facebook group.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-81138130330334560072020-04-22T13:07:01.175-05:002020-04-22T13:07:01.175-05:00Great review. I especially appreciate your note ab...Great review. I especially appreciate your note about the historical inaccuracy of a struggle over arming the Seabees. My guess is that this was done to add drama but also to enhance the propaganda effect of the film.<br /><br />Propaganda movies seem to aim to create certain reactions in the viewing audience, depending on the thrust of the film. I don't think I can list all of them but in my viewing of these movies I have noticed them going for the following audience responses:<br /><br />1. "Those bastards."<br />2. "Hey, these allies of ours aren't so strange after all."<br />3. "Our forces are better than theirs and will win in anything like an even fight."<br />4. "I bet I could do that."<br />5. "It sure would be neat to be a hero."<br />6. "People who enlist get respect."<br />7. "The enemy benefits when we slack off."<br />8. "People who oppose the cause are dysfunctional jerks."<br />9. "People who support the cause are attractive and admired."<br /><br />There are variations among the nations: American war propaganda tends to be lighter in its treatment of no. 8 and I don't think I've seen any communist propaganda that aimed for reaction no. 2. <br /><br />In any case, my guess is that this film was mostly going for "hey, I could do that," and emphasized the success of the men despite their unconventional situations. What's interesting is it seems (though I might be wrong) that by the time the movie came out recruitment standards for Seabees had tightened and they were filling their ranks with younger and fitter men with less construction experience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com