August 2005 marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. The 20th century’s greatest conflict was documented by the cinema more thoroughly than any other event before or since. Many of the actuality and propaganda films from the period reside in MoMA’s archives, and these provide a fascinating look at some of the watershed moments in our country’s—and the world’s—history. This exhibition also commemorates the publication of Dr. Lawrence Suid and Dolores Haverstick’s Stars and Stripes on Screen: A Comprehensive Guide to Portrayals of American Military on Film (2005, Scarecrow Press). The authors will introduce most of the screenings and sign copies of their book. Dr. Suid, one of America’s most distinguished military historians, is also the author of Guts and Glory: The Making of the American Military Image in Film (2002), the publication of which was celebrated by a MoMA film series in 2003.
Organized by Charles Silver, Associate Curator, Department of Film and Media.