The “Good War?”

D-day is an event in history that every American child grows up learning as the heroic battle and tipping point of World War II. In the films The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan, the audience sees images of American soldiers storming the beaches of Normandy courageously fighting against the Germans. Most of these soldiers are depicted as those willingly fighting and dying for their country, exuding patriotism and loyalty. These soldiers were fighting not only against Hitler’s dictatorship, but also communism. The United States, as well as the others in the Allied Forces, rescued France from the oppressive control of the Germans, dubbing this war as “the people’s war.” (This concept of “saving” others is bluntly in the film title, Saving Private Ryan.) However, was World War II really fought by willing soldiers? Did patriotism prevail universally during the war?

The Longest Day (1962) and Saving Private Ryan (1998) glorify World War II
and according to Howard Zinn, even promote war, by depicting heroic patriotism in American soldiers. While both films exude patriotism, The Longest Day takes it a step further to promote this war as the “good war” by portraying not only American patriotism, but British, Irish and French loyalty as well, coming together as the Allied Forces. In this film, the French gladly welcome the incoming soldiers, laughing and bringing champagne to the war front for the Americans.

Additionally, the initial massacre at D-day is not shown violently, as there is no blood or gore throughout the whole film.

The battle scenes are also shown from aerial views, removing the audience from the devastation of death. In these ways, this film clearly supports World War II as the “good war”, fought for the people by courageous soldiers.

Saving Private Ryan also shows patriotism in war, but only by American soldiers, as minorities and other soldiers in the Allied Forces are not shown. However, the idea of patriotism and meaning of war is also questioned throughout the film. In the opening scene of the film, Spielberg shows the fear of the soldiers, as well as the inexperienced youth in the war. This scene still shows the patriotism and bravery of the soldiers for being involved in the war, but also alludes to the fact that many of these men were drafted and fearful of war. During World War II, over ten million men were drafted into the war. This fact is rarely discussed, because it would show that some protested against the war, and loyalty was not universal.

Spielberg again questions patriotism and the intentions of war when the crew chosen to find Private Ryan begins to complain about their position in war. Private Jackson states that he should be used to fight, not to find some other soldier, questioning why he is in the war if not being used to kill Hitler. This comment causes Captain Miller to sarcastically say that Private Jackson should be saying, “This is an excellent mission, sir, with an extremely valuable objective, sir,  worthy of my best efforts, sir. Moreover… I feel heartfelt sorrow for the mother of Private James Ryan and am willing to lay down my life and the lives of my men…” showing that obedience and patriotism is what every soldier should portray regardless of his personal thoughts. Soldiers are usually seen as loyal, brave, dedicated individuals, but a few times throughout the film Spielberg shows them as real people, with emotions and doubt, fearful and confused of war, rather than machine-like, blood thirsty men.

 

The violence and cinematography in Saving Private Ryan depict the devastation of D-day, shocking the audience with gore. This gore is brutal to watch, but allows for a more accurate portrayal of the massacre on Omaha beach. The camera angles used in the film are level with the soldiers, placing the audience in the battle, feeling and seeing the tragedies of war. With these scenes, Spielberg does not only show this war as the “good war,” but also a war of doubt, of fear, of destruction, of patriotism, and of bravery.

Overall, these films depict World War II as the “good war,” rescuing an oppressed Europe from Hitler’s dictatorship. War is glorified in these films as patriotic soldiers willingly die for a significant cause. Whether the audience believes this classic American tale is up to the viewer.

The American Dream

The Grapes of Wrath is a novel written by John Steinbeck (1939) and a film directed by John Ford (1940), that tells a story of a family from the mid-west traveling to California for work during the Great Depression. This family, the Joad’s, as well as many others in the mid-west are driven out of their homes, because the government takes over their land. With nowhere to turn, these “Okies” head out west to California as there is promise of work and establishing a life there. Steinbeck encapsulates the idea of the “American Dream” in his novel, and depicts the “hollowness of the ‘American Dream’ of individualism and material success” during the Great Depression (Brinkley 224).The constant misfortunes of the Joad family show the fleeting idea of the American Dream, and the novel even suggests that it does not exist. The film adapts a similar storyline to the novel, however the end of the film shows that the American Dream endures with hard work, perseverance and strength – depicted by the Joad family. Who does the Joad family represent and why did Ford chose to change the ending?

The Joad family is from Oklahoma, known by many people as “Okies.” Throughout the film, the Okies are portrayed as unrefined, rowdy, and now homeless individuals, without a sense of direction. When this family travels to California and their car breaks down, the mechanics talk about this family saying “human beings wouldn’t live the way they do…so miserable,” stating that the Okies are hardly humans, living in their current condition. This statement also accuses the Okies that they are homeless and underprivileged because they choose to be, not because they have had their land stolen from underneath them. In this way,  those in the film do not sympathize with the Okies, but rather look down upon them. This  lack of sympathy from others in the film as well as the hardships the Joad family endures creates sympathy from the audience. Ford first creates sympathy in the beginning of the film when the government evicts families from their properties, taking land from the Okies that had been in the family for decades. The Joad family is relatable and wholesome,  allowing this family to represent the common person, representing us. This family’s journey can be similar to our own, as they search for the American Dream, encountering many hardships on the way.

Steinbeck tries to encompass the meaning of the Great Depression, as he continually breaks down the Joad family and persistently displays their misfortunes and fleeting dreams, diminishing any hope. Steinbeck wanted to portray the despair and rage of the migrants during the Great Depression, showing the plight of those from the Dust Bowl. Ford wanted to stay true to Steinbeck’s representation of the migrants, but changed the ending to depict hope of a successful future, suggesting that the American Dream is possible. The last scene of the film is Ma Joad’s monologue, talking about survival and success because “we’re the people,” stating that anyone can achieve the American Dream if they try hard enough. It is likely that Ford changed this ending because America was still going through the Great Depression, and therefore he wanted to create an uplifting film, to give the audience hope for a better future. He also likely chose to have Ma Joad as the main focus of strength in the film to symbolize female empowerment. 1940 was just a year before America went to war in World War II, when women began working in the factories, and many women had to work during the Great Depression to help their families survive. Ma Joad symbolizes the audacity women possess, and empowers women during a time in history that most women were still oppressed.

This film captures the American narrative during the Great Depression, a tale of struggle and despair for many Americans. It depicts the lack of structure in society, creating chaos and fear. However, despite the many hardships endured during this time, the film also creates an uplifting story of survival, and hope for a better future after the Depression. Ford’s message in the film shows the panic of those struggling to survive, but with hard work and perseverance anyone can achieve the American Dream because “we’re the people.”