Blood Brothers

The working title of the film was Battle Cry. In addition to being released under the title Blood Brothers, the film was released as Half-Way to Hell. According to an March 18, 1953 Variety news item, Blood Brothers was altered upon Joseph Stalin's death in March 1953, and Classic Pictures added the phrase The Strange Life and Death of Joseph Stalin to the title. However, this title did not appear on either of the viewed prints or in contemporary reviews. Although copyright statements appear on both viewed prints for Blood Brothers and Half-Way to Hell, and publicity material indicates that the release title Half-Way to Hell was copyrighted in 1954, there are no listings for these titles in the Copyright Catalog.
       No national release date has been determined. Although a March 27, 1952 Hollywood Reporter news item indicated that producers anticipated releasing the film in April 1952 , Blood Brothers was first screened in New York in February 1953, and in Los Angeles in April 1953. After the documentary's New York opening, it was acquired by exploitation producer-distributor Kroger Babb for release through his Hallmark company. Information in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library indicates that in September 1953, the film was approved by the Pennsylvania censor board under the title Half-Way to Hell.
       Two prints were viewed, one bearing the title Blood Brothers and the other entitled Half-Way to Hell; however, the print for Blood Brothers was missing the title credit and no script is available to confirm other possible missing credits. Furthermore, onscreen credits in the films varied in content. While George Rony is credited with "Production by" in opening credits for Blood Brothers, he received the following onscreen acknowledgment in the opening credits of Half-Way to Hell: "We gratefully acknowledge the unique contribution of George Rony, who originated and compiled the material upon which this production is based." The story and narration credit for both prints reads as "Story written and told by Quentin Reynolds," the internationally known writer who narrated the film. The following credit only appears above the title credits for Half-Way to Hell: "World's Largest Organization of Showmen, Hallmark, America's Fearless Showman Kroger Babb presents."
       Other credits appearing in Half-Way to Hell but not on the print for Blood Brothers are as follows: Art Director Kenneth Snelson; Historical Voices Robert Vincent; Associate Editor Roland Saland; Coordinated by Al Rogell; and Executive Supervision Mabel Walker Willebrandt," as well as all music credits. In addition, both prints include written acknowledgments to the U.S. Department of Defense, The National Archives, The Katyn Investigation Committee and the Office of the Alien Property Custodian.
       The print for Half-Way to Hell, however, adds an acknowledgment to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and introduces the acknowledgments with the statement "Hallmark Productions, Inc. wishes to publicly thank the following for their co-operation," as well as a written statement that follows the opening credits: "A Frank, Fearless Statement. This is no ordinary motion picture! No Hollywood craftsman could create its scenes, nor could the world's finest actors play its roles. These pictures are 100% authentic. Most of the sequences were filmed behind the Iron Curtain and smuggled out of foreign countries. The camera doesn't lie! Now you can see with your own eyes what goes on in nations where mad men in their lust for power, throw out God...wipe out personal liberties...and slowly `hypnotize' their followers. The message to be gained from Half-Way to Hell is a most vital one. It will reach deep down into your soul. I'm sincerely proud to bring this production to you. The Communists don't want you to see it. They would have you think theirs is a better way of life than the teachings of Jesus Christ. Not the least of the lessons it teaches is the vital importance of every citizen being constantly alert to protect his freedom. Any knowledge of subversive groups or meetings, deeds or acts, literature or whispered promises, should be promptly reported to Government authorities." The preceding statement is accompanied by Kroger Babb's signature.
       Publicity material for Half-Way to Hell includes an acknowledgment for "Cooperation of the American Legion Committee on Americanism, Legion Headquarters, Indianapolis, Ind." Furthermore, content between the two titles differ slightly in that Blood Brothers opens with scenes of Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, whereas Half-Way to Hell opens with an extended, more reflective sequence about religion and inhumanity and contains some additional footage.
       A January 16, 1953 Hollywood Reporter news item reported that Rony filed a lawsuit against Albert S. Rogell, Parliament Pictures and Classic Pictures, Inc., accusing the filmmakers of appropriating a story he had written and reneging on a deal for him to produce the property. The final outcome of this lawsuit has not been determined. Mabel Walker Willebrandt, listed as executive supervisor on Half-Way to Hell, sponsored a private screening of the film, then titled Blood Brothers, at the Academy Theatre in Los Angeles on April 23, 1953. Although neither reviews nor the incomplete viewed print for Blood Brothers credited Willebrandt, it is possible her name was included in the missing title credits.