The Fight for Peace

The working title of the film was Marching to War. Sources disagree in attributing writing and producing credits: An Hollywood Reporter news item on October 7, 1937 notes that the film, which had been "completed four months ago, prior to the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, but was held up until footage that conflict could be obtained," was assembled by producer Herbert Bregstein. The news item also notes that Hendrick Van Loan [sic.] wrote the story outline and Donald Ogden Stewart wrote the script material. The Daily Variety review credits J. J. Milstein as the distributor, Bregstein and Irving Applebaum as the producers, and Van Loon and Hans Teisler as adaptors. The Variety review credits Warwick Pictures with distribution and Milstein with production; it also credits Don Bartlett with adaptation, but indicates that the adpatation was based on an "original" by Van Loon. The Film Daily, Motion Picture Herald and Box Office reviews generally concur with Variety. It is possible that "Don Bartlett" is a pseudonym for Donald Ogden Stewart. The Hollywood Reporter news item also noted that John Nesbitt "is the commentator," however, all reviews credit David Ross as the narrator (except Daily Variety which calls him "David Rose"). It is possible that a new narration was recorded by Ross, and Nesbitt's voice was not heard on the released film. Reviews note that the film consisted of much "World War" (i.e. World War I) newsreel footage. All reviews used to catalog the film comment favorably on its quality as a documentary and an indictment of Fascism and War. Several reviews point out the explicit nature of some of the war footage. New York Times calls the film "a frightening, horrible, sorrowful document of the beautifully monstrous sport of kings," and notes that the lobby posters at the Criterion Threatre in New York warned "persons with weak hearts against entering." According to a news item in Motion Picture Daily, this picture was banned in Great Britain "due to the British policy of appeasement." The item also notes that Milstein called the picture "definitely anti-fascist."