Being there . . . to meet pro-German and National Socialist actors, actresses, and directors in
nearly 500 Nazi propaganda films shown in America between 1933-1942; then fly down to the
Florida Keys and watch John Wayne, Robert Montgomery, and John Ford make the WW II
classic feature, “They Were Expandable”, a PT boat saga that takes place in the Pacific, and
conclude your movie sightseeing journey by mingling with Audi Murphy, a western movie star
of the 1950s and 1960s, while on film location sets throughout America’s Southwest. When
appropriate, ask Audi why he was the recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for
extraordinary heroism during World War II . . . . .
MOVIEGOERS SHOUT, “THANK YOU, McFARLAND PUBLISHING!”
Reviewed and Highly Recommended by Don DeNevi
“NAZI FILMS IN AMERICA, 1933-1942”, by Harry Waldman. McFarland & Company, Inc.,
Publishers: first published in 2008 by McFarland, reprinted in2020; 296 pages, sc; $39.95. See:
www.mcfarlandpub.com.
“BEHIND THE SCENES OF ‘THEY WERE EXPENABLE’ – – A Pictorial History”, by Lou Sabini, with
photographs by Nicholas Scutti, Forewords by Scott Eyman and Karen Everson. McFarland &
Company, Inc., Publishers: 2015; 197 pages, sc; $24. See: www.mcfarlandpub.com.
“THE FILMS OF AUDIE MURPHY”, by Bob Larkins and Boyd Magers, Forewords by David Stratton
and Michael Pate. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers: first published in 2004 by McFarland,
reprinted in 2004; 232 pages, sc; $39.95. See: www.mcfarlandpub.com.
Nearly half of all the imported foreign films in America during the 1933-1942 years were from
Nazi Germany. Poorly disguised, these propaganda films were produced by Germany’s top
studios and featured pro-German and Nazi actors, directors, and technicians. The feature
length film story lines were replete with overt and covert anti-Jewish imagery and themes.
Despite using cinema to justify Nazi ascendancy, viewers, and film critics from such prominent
publications as the New York Times, Variety, and Washington Post, Chicago Times continually
overlooked the films’ anti-Semitic messages.
Author Harry Waldman presents us with the complete history of German films in America.
Summaries, descriptions, and discussions of these 500 films serve to examine the major film
makers and distributors who kept the German film industry alive during the rule of Hitler and
his Third Reich. Joseph Goebbels is scrutinized. Rare seen photographs are used throughout.
As for “Behind the Scenes of ‘They Were Expendable’ “, bibliophiles and their younger cinephile
brothers and sisters are overjoyed author Lou Sabini discovered a batch of hitherto unknown
production photographs taken in 1945 by U.S Navy photographer Nick Scutti during the filming
of the classic Pacific war feature. It was directed by legendary John Ford, starring John Wayne
and Robert Montgomery. Scutti’s hitherto unpublished collection of fully captioned photos
provides us with a unique chronicle of the 30-day location shoot, revealing details of the
making of the film, and, in some instances, includes the disapproving statements by MGM
publicity and remarks by Ford himself. Sabini thoughtfully includes brief biographical sketches
of the movie stars and the actual men the story is based upon.
As for “The Films of Audie Murphy”, Bob Larkins and Boyd Magers present Audie’s fans, and
Congressional Medal of Honor buffs, with the handsome reference they’ve been yearning for – –
a warts-tell-all, the good, bad, and sad, including Audie’s fair share of personal failures and
successes, and his shocking, unexpected, tragic death from a plane crash.
The co-authors proudly trace Audie’s life in a biography that ranges from his birth to his three
years in the army, focusing upon how he won every possible combat medal the American
military has to offer. From his Hollywood debut at James Cagney’s invitation to his final
dramatic decline, all aspects of his personal tragedies are explored with no details conveniently
scratched or ignored, i.e., Audie gambling his fortunes away; surprising everyone with
unexpected, uncalled for violent outbursts and episodes, etc. Each of the 49 film entries for the
actor is cogently summarized, with critical reviews, comments, and anecdotes added, including
those of fellow actors and film crews. Audie Murphy was a good man, always kind and
conscientious, a heroic man, who deserved a better life, and this book eloquently tells why.
