Entertainment columnist Mark Harris gives us the untold story of how Hollywood changed World War II, and how World War II changed Hollywood, through the prism of five film directors caught up in the war: John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens. It was the best of times and the worst of times for Hollywood before the war. The box office was booming, and the studios' control of talent and distribution was as airtight as could be hoped. But the industry's relationship with Washington was decidedly uneasy -- hearings and investigations into allegations of corruption and racketeering were multiplying, and hanging in the air was the insinuation that the business was too foreign, too Jewish, too un-American in its values and causes. Could an industry this powerful in shaping America's mind-set really be left in the hands of this crew? Following Pearl Harbor, Hollywood had the chance to prove its critics wrong and did so with vigor, turning its talents and its bu

Looks at the World War II experiences of five legendary directors--John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens--to assess the transformative impact of the war and period beliefs on Hollywood.

Looks at the World War II experiences of five legendary directors--John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens--to assess the transformative impact of the war and period beliefs on Hollywood.