Real War vs. Reel War Veterans, Hollywood, and WWII [Hardcover]

World War II films reflect a tension between the need for accuracy and realism and Hollywoods desire for action, backstories, and even a bit of romance. Hundreds of films about the era have been churned out over the years, including almost 300 during the war years alone, when many young men made the decision to enlist after viewing a gung-ho combat movie. This book describes World War II films as historical documents, using the memories of seven aging veterans (plus a few women who served on the home front), comparing their experiences to what was portrayed on the big screen. The soldiers and sailors backgrounds range from time on battleships, in the infantry, and in the air war, as well as those who were Navajo code talkers and prisoners of war. While reality could occasionally be glimpsed in these films, a more typical example is David O. Selznicks sudsy 1944 soap opera epic Since You Went Away.I found your book to be very fascinating. You had a great concept and nicely executed it. We've seen books on historical accuracy and film . . . but I like that you were able to find actual World War II veterans to give their perspective on the films.In this book, World War II veterans compare their wartime experiencesas soldiers, pilots, code talkers, and prisoners of warto on-screen portrayals of the war in Hollywood films. In addition, two womenreal life Rosie the Riveterscompare depictions of women and the home front at wartime with their experiences.World War II has been the subject of hundreds, if not thousands, of films produced in the United States alone. From training camp scenes in See Here, Private Hargrove to images of brutal combat in Saving Private Ryan, filmmakers have been tasked with replicating pivotal moments in the war. But sometimes story lines and dramatic manipulations of audiences have led to less-than-faithful re-creations of what men and women have endured during times of conflict.In Real War vs. Reel War: Veterans, Hollywood, and Worldlsy