This film is part of Free
America Thinks It Over
In a world on the verge of war, will America support the democracies of Europe, or turn inwards and embrace isolationism?
Overview
In 1939 Europe was on the brink of war, but in the USA, public opinion polls showed the majority of Americans were enjoying security and well-being, largely as a result of Roosevelt’s New Deal. This March of Time issue evokes a powerful sense of the ambivalence felt by Americans: nimbly showing them to be concerned by the rise of fascism, keen to defend themselves and support the democracies of Europe, but not necessarily enthusiastic about going to war.
One of the most fascinating aspects of this issue is the detailed account of Elmo Roper’s pioneering use of public opinion poll in America, through the Fortune Survey, which predicted Roosevelt’s landslide victory in the 1936 US Presidential elections to within 1% accuracy. This reconstruction of the development of the poll features Roper himself and his team, along with maps, diagrams, and archival footage, combining words and images in a typically dramatic March of Time style, to make the potentially dry subject of opinion polls seem genuinely exciting.
Related
Inside Nazi Germany Inside Nazi Germany
Documentary 1938 16 mins
A genuinely historic film, which caused much controversy at the time: the first commercially -released American motion picture to explicitly attack Hitler and Nazism.
Presidential Year Presidential Year
Documentary 1948 15 mins
‘Crisp and sincere’,‘carefully trained’ or ’resonant and vibrant’? Which voice would appeal to you if you had to pick the Republican candidate for the 1948 Presidential Election?
Great Britain Coronation Great Britain Coronation
Anthology 1937 24 mins
Weatherproof bunting, fog, clockwork dolls and a Hollywood exodus to London: this sideways look at preparations for the Coronation of George VI provides a wry American take on a very British ceremony.
Metropolis Metropolis
Documentary 1939 18 mins
This ode to New York from March of Time shows us how seven and half million people from every race and nationality in the world, live, work and play together in ‘the greatest metropolis of the New World’.
Irish Free State Irish Free State
Anthology 1936 23 mins
How Ireland turned herself into a self-sufficient powerhouse - plus a study of the "lunatic fringe" in US politics.
Movies March On Movies March On
Non-Fiction 1939 21 mins
Charlie Chaplin relaxes on the tennis court in this potted history of Hollywood, which looks back fondly to the early days of film, in a world on the brink of war.
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Blades Blades
Drama 2023 2 mins
A group of young Black boys run into a building. One of them is about to do the unimaginable.
We Collide We Collide
Romance 2023 2 mins
A queercore romance - a visceral and immersive exploration of the power of the mosh pit and finding love in the most unlikely of places.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.