A free screening of Oscar award winner Frank Capra”s 1942 film “Prelude to War” will take place Thursday night at Starkville Community Theatre.
The film, the first of seven in the “Why We Fight” series commissioned by the U.S. government during World War II, will begin at 7 p.m. in the playhouse at 108 E. Main St. The series originally was shown to servicemen and civilians to drum up support for the war.
Millions of servicemen and servicewomen saw “Prelude to War” early in their basic training during the country”s war years, said Dr. Clyde Williams, a member of Starkville Reads and Starkville Community Theatre, who will introduce the film Thursday night. The film was released to the public in fall 1942 and played in thousands of movie theaters across the country.
“(World War II) veterans, their children and grandchildren will find this film particularly memorable,” Starkville Community Theatre President Alison Stamps said. “The visual images and the powerful message will resonate with today”s audiences. Everyone, literally everyone in the U. S., was materially affected by the events Capra shows.”
Audience participation and discussion will follow the showing. Veterans, men and women currently in uniform and students enrolled in ROTC programs are encouraged to attend.
The screening and discussion is the fourth collaboration between Starkville Community Theatre and Starkville Reads.
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