December 7th, The Battle of Midway, and John Ford's Career in the OSS

Abstract

ABSTRACT:December 7th was made in 1942 by John Ford's Field Photographic Branch of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) at the request of the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy. It was ultimately rejected for exhibition to the general public on the advice of the Office of War Information. Ford and director Gregg Toland eventually prepared an abbreviated version which was allowed only a limited release. This article considers the rejection of December 7th in the context of Field Photo's development as a unit, and in relation to Ford's most famous World War II documentary, The Battle of Midway. It seeks to explain how Ford was able to secure government approval and a general theatrical release for The Battle of Midway in the latter part of 1942 and how the policies and protocols of the government and military agencies that regulated wartime propaganda had altered by the time that December 7th came under review in the first half of 1943.