Derek Peltier
I believe that Sahara definately portrayed a propaganda film for WW2. The film brought up several different points that the government used as a guide for war movies. One of the big topics in the movie that was brought up was what the American troops were fighting for. Throughout the movie there were a few occasions where the American soldiers kept on bringing up their freedom and their families telling the viewers two big reasons to fight. There were times where the soldiers would gather and show pictures of their loved ones to the other soldiers and tell stories of their lives back home. For the American Platoon their leader was Joe Gunn. Once they met up with the other platoon he took over that one as well. He was a fierce and selfless leader who took control and everyone obeyed him and listened to him. I really liked how when they did find the water well he allowed everyone a certain amount of gulps of water before he took any himself. I think by him doing that it also showed the respect that the americans had for their allies.
I found it very interesting how the movie protrayed its enemies. The Italian character in the movie was shown as kind of an awkward guy but a guy that you could respect and get to like where as the German enemy and prisoner was shown as a very dirty and mean character where he stabs the Italian prisoner in the back and than tries to escape during the battle. I also really liked the quote in the movie where Bogart said that the Americans "have that extra something" to fight for that the Nazi enemies don't like freedom. I thought that was a very strong and powerful line that kind of told the story of the movie and what the government was trying to get across to all of the American people. Also, racism was portrayed in the movie but only the Nazi's. I found it interesting the this film had no appearce of women or what their role was during the war. I feel this is mostly becuase they are not on the front line fighting nor in the ranks, therefore making them insignificant to the film. Overall, I felt this film did it's job is protrayin and reinacting WW2 and was able to get the point across to the public. I feel this movie was very well received by the Americans, I enjoyed the film as well.