Selling Democracy: Films of the Marshall Plan 1948 - 1953

Thu, Dec 1
7:30pm
General $8, free for PFA Members and UC Berkeley students

Selling Democracy: Films of the Marshall Plan 1948 - 1953
Program 4: Strength for the Free World - From War to European Union

Introduced by Sandra Schulberg
co-presented by Goethe-Institut San Francisco

The invasion of Korea cut short phase one of the Marshall Plan, the
European Recovery Program. A somewhat darker view of the future
imbued phase two - the Mutual Security Administration. MSA filmmakers
would still make a number of optimistic "ERP-type" films, but also
many with anti-Communist themes, stressing the virtues of political
unity and military strength. The fear of Communist inroads haunts THE
HOUR OF CHOICE (1951, 21 mins.), WITHOUT FEAR (1951, 15 mins.), and
STRUGGLE FOR MEN'S MIND (1952, 27 mins.). WHITSUN HOLIDAY (1953, 14
mins.) is a clever piece of propaganda that mocks the way Eastern
Bloc citizens spend their leisure time. DO NOT DISTURB! (ca. 1950, 15
mins., in German with English subtitles) is an even funnier satire in
the guise of a Soviet-inspired propaganda film. The Marshall Plan
would blaze the trail toward European Union, out of a conviction that
a common market was the fastest route to recovery and the best
bulwark against Communism. But trade barriers were a major obstacle.
Here animation came to the rescue, in the artful cartoon parable THE
SHOEMAKER AND THE HATTER (1950, 16 mins.). Taken together, these
films posit a vision of a united Europe, demonstrating the
extraordinary long-term legacy of the Marshall Plan and its impact on
the Europe of today.

Total running time: 108 mins.

Venue:

Pacific Film Archive
2575 Bancroft Way
Berkeley
510-642-1124
www.bampfa.berkeley.edu

2575 Bancroft Way
Between College and Telegraph,
Nearest BART station: Downtown Berkeley Station, 15min. walk to the
Pacific Film Archive
For more public transit information, please see
http:www.transitinfo.org

Additional Info:

510-642-1124
www.bampfa.berkeley.edu