Flying Fortress (Trailer)

1942
Sound
3m

This typically energetic trailer for a British-made Warner Bros. wartime drama certainly does its job.

Typically energetic trailer for the British-made Warner Bros. wartime drama starring Richard Greene as an American millionaire who joins the RAF to do his bit. As the trailer announces, the film blends thrills with comedy and drama with romance - and with "a galaxy of motion picture talent" in front of the camera, who could say no to this one? They don't make trailers like this any more.

Promotional trailer for the film Flying Fortress

WWII at the Pictures

Once the cinemas were declared open for business, the film industry kept the reels turning, serving up a mixed diet of news, morale-boosting propaganda and uplifting entertainment.

In the early days of the war, cinemas were closed as a public safety measure, but authorities were soon persuaded of film's many virtues in wartime. Newsreels kept spirits up and relayed vital information, documentaries rigorously explored every aspect of life and work on the home front, and an array of animations and short films imparted practical tips and guidance.

Feature films, meanwhile, offered equal parts inspiring wartime stories and escapist fantasy to bring relief from everyday trials. And with gender roles evolving and so many men away from home, producers were forced to pay more attention (long overdue!) to the tastes and interests of women cinemagoers - with fascinating and enduring results.