MovieChat Forums > The Battle of Midway (1942) Discussion > Not sure I count this as a documentary

Not sure I count this as a documentary


Sure, sure, I know it is real footage of real events, not a fictionalised account. Sure, technically speaking it is a 'documentary' as it is a document of this part of the war.

But for me, the idea of a documentary is to tell you more of the story and context - this is more a blend of newsreel and propoganda.

Interesting that this won an Oscar, which on technical and cinematic merit it simply does not deserve. I guess the Oscar was given to boost the propoganda value of the footage at a time when national morale was in need of all the help it could get - in fact it is one of 4 war related films given the best documentary Oscar that year. Have 4 winners in one category ever happened before? I don't think so, so clearly these nominations are purely politically motivated.

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