World War II: Sahara
The movie Sahara, starring Humphrey Bogart, follows all six themes outlined by the United States government for Hollywood’s contribution to the war effort. The movie outlined the reason why the soldiers were fighting against near impossible odds (500 to 9) through brief explanations of why each soldier was fighting. For example, the Frenchman was fighting to avenge the deaths of citizens of his village who were slaughtered by the Germans; Gunn was fighting for patriotism; the Sudanese soldier was fighting for family and tradition (many of his relatives, including his father, were soldiers); etc.
The nature of the Germans was portrayed through a German soldier who was captured after his plane was shot down by the allied tank. The German soldier was depicted as a liar (pretended not to speak English), a racist (refused to let the Sudanese soldier search him) and a drone that mindlessly followed all of Hitler’s ideologies. Also, when the Germans were giving up their guns for water, they were depicted as almost zombie like as they walked mindlessly towards the well. The nature of the Italians was portrayed through an Italian soldier who had been captured by the Sudanese soldier. He was depicted as a weak coward (begged to be taken as a prisoner of war after he was released to fend for himself in the desert) and traitor to his people (talked poorly of Mussolini).
The United Nations (allies in arms) theme was shown through the banding together of a rag tag group of soldiers from all over the United States, Europe and Africa. The production front theme was portrayed by the soldier’s tank. America was the only nation among the rag tag group that was able to supply means of transportation through the desert. Also, all of the soldiers banded together under the leadership of the American, Captain Gunn. The home front theme, probably the weakest theme in the movie, was represented by brief references to loved ones back home who supported their respective loved ones in the war effort. The fighting forces theme was represented through all nine of the soldiers agreeing to stay and fight against the odds in order to delay the German advancement through the desert.
Overall, the movie was both entertaining and patriotic. It served as an excellent source of propaganda using Humphrey Bogart (one of the best actors of the 1940s) to portray a united ally front. America and the allies were able to defeat the Germans against all odds.
Ian Bell