Just watched this propaganda short on the Hollywood Canteen DVD. This one tells the fictional story of the Kanowskis, a family whose parents came to this country from the Polish-Ukraine. The father fights in the Civil War and loses an arm though he bears no ill will since he proudly served his country. And so when the Spanish-American War came, he summoned his grandsons to help fight which they gladly did. And then one of his sons continue the summoning after his father dies...The narrator points out that the immigrants that are presented here could have been any others from various countries looking for a new land to call their own and become what the title above says. He also says that the second generation became native Americans while the group we now call that-what he referred to as Indians-were originally from Asia. Later on, we see Dennis Morgan do a speech continuing the short's point that not all Americans were named Smith, Jones, or Brown but were also many other surnames that he admits aren't easily pronounceable. So obviously, this short was meant to tell immigrants to feel proud of their adopted country. And it's pretty heartfelt seeing how tolerant this country at the time was to different nationalities and cultures though one pauses when one realizes that segregation of African-Americans and Caucasians was legal then as well...
7 Reviews
"In their hearts, they were already Americans"
boblipton23 May 2019
"For countless centuries, it waited for a people to call it their own." Fortunately, White people found only Indians here, starting with Leif Ericson.
Oh, dear. Well, that's just an indication of how people thought in 1944, when this one-reel movie was made. Once that's over, it tells the story of two emigrants from the Ukraine. My ancestors came from that area of the world: Poland and Lithuania and Rumania and even Silesia. And you know what? They came, thinking they would like to be Americans, away from European tyrants. And while this country is far from perfect, it was and is a lot better than where they came from. And, like the family of the two emigrants from the Ukraine in this movie, I remain grateful.
Oh, dear. Well, that's just an indication of how people thought in 1944, when this one-reel movie was made. Once that's over, it tells the story of two emigrants from the Ukraine. My ancestors came from that area of the world: Poland and Lithuania and Rumania and even Silesia. And you know what? They came, thinking they would like to be Americans, away from European tyrants. And while this country is far from perfect, it was and is a lot better than where they came from. And, like the family of the two emigrants from the Ukraine in this movie, I remain grateful.
Very Nice
utgard148 January 2014
Entertaining patriotic short film that follows the story of a family of immigrants from the time they arrive in the 1840s to the present day (1944). Unlike the other reviews I don't have any backhanded compliments to pay this short. Nor do I intend to use the word propaganda as a bludgeon against it for daring to be patriotic. Gasp! The horror of loving one's country! What were these primitives thinking back then? Didn't they know that for every good thing you say about the United States, you have to say two bad things as well? Anyway, it's a nice dramatic short with a positive message about the role immigrants played in shaping America. My favorite part occurred when the narrator was listing all the various noteworthy descendants of this family. He gets to one fat guy sleeping under a tree with his dog lying on his stomach. The narration goes: "There was one who never amounted to anything at all. But his dog loved him til the day he died. So he couldn't have been all bad." I love stuff like that. Also has some cameos from movie stars like Humphrey Bogart and Dennis Morgan.
America's propaganda to boost WWII morale...
Doylenf18 April 2009
Propaganda was sometimes pretty heavy-handed during the WWII years and "I Am An American" demonstrates this point to perfection.
It's about as flag waving as you can get, but taken in the context of those war years, it's understandable that every major studio in Hollywood was coming up with films of this ilk.
It also happens to be a sketchy history lesson, encompassing so much of America's history in fleeting montages devoted to the discovery and building of a great country, peopled by all nationalities. It's obviously a "united we stand, divided we fall" kind of philosophy that sets the tone for the film.
DENNIS MORGAN is pictured at a morale boosting rally to sell war bonds and delivers a very patriotic speech in professional fashion.
Obviously, this was intended as Warner's salute to Americans during the height of WWII. It follows the history of a Polish family and its contributions to the war effort through the sacrificing of many young men to fight various wars.
It's about as flag waving as you can get, but taken in the context of those war years, it's understandable that every major studio in Hollywood was coming up with films of this ilk.
It also happens to be a sketchy history lesson, encompassing so much of America's history in fleeting montages devoted to the discovery and building of a great country, peopled by all nationalities. It's obviously a "united we stand, divided we fall" kind of philosophy that sets the tone for the film.
DENNIS MORGAN is pictured at a morale boosting rally to sell war bonds and delivers a very patriotic speech in professional fashion.
Obviously, this was intended as Warner's salute to Americans during the height of WWII. It follows the history of a Polish family and its contributions to the war effort through the sacrificing of many young men to fight various wars.
A Benchmark of Pure Propaganda
max von meyerling5 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
By its nature, propaganda is sly. However sometimes it is pure and unvarnished propaganda. When it's believed that the message is so urgent that there is no shame involved in presenting the message as directly and robustly as possible.
I AM AN American (1944) is a no bones-about-it title. It concerns a couple from the "Polish Ukraine", Maria and Theodor Kanowski who arrive in New York's Castle Garden in 1853. It is stressed that this example is merely a didactic fiction as it could be immigrants from almost anywhere with any family name. Several are listed, but we come back to the Kanowskis. They walk to Ohio where they start farming and have children, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Martha Washington. The father goes off to the civil war in 1861 and comes back missing his right arm (He gives his good strong right arm for his country.) He starts over and prospers and has more children and grandchildren. It's 1898 and Spain has declared war and Father calls a family meeting and six of his grandsons go off to war, two coming back. One left on the battlefield and three to malaria. The Patriarch, now widowed, is seen in his bed, as America is about to enter WW1exhorting his decendents to join up to fight for their country. He leaves the responsibility of rallying the family for the next war to his son, George Washington Kanowski. The family is so large and scattered that he can't call a family meeting but must telegraph them.
Throughout it is stressed that this could be any family from any national background. Several times lists of counties and ethnic names are reeled off just in case we didn't get the message. Dennis Morgan is brought out to seal the deal though his speech is delivered in front of a rear screen projection of a mass rally. This is interesting for a couple of reasons. First of all the cadences of Dennis Morgan's speech were identical to those of Ronald Reagan. In other words a professional actor delivering "material". One might wonder why Maj. Ronald Reagan wasn't asked to do the job. First of all Dennis Morgan was a real star, someone who carried a "A" film on their own. Secondly Reagan was the head of the Air Corps film unit based at the Hal Roach Studio (Fort Wacky) whose films usually starred Reagan (JAP ZERO). I AM etc. was made at Warner Brothers. But its interesting that after the war, when Reagan began working for General Electric and Young and Rubicon and began making The Speech it would be based on the rhetoric of a propaganda movie.
Of course the importance of the film is to rally the various ethnic groups to the flag. Apparently this was a problem in the still segregated US Armed Services. There were north south rivalries as well as the dominant anglo-saxon culture refusing to co-operate with other ethnicities as well as Jews and Catholics. This was to sweep up in a rising tide of patriotism to reiterate the fact that all were Americans and we can win if we all fight together.
It's all very direct because the goal, victory in the war, was considered so paramount that subtlety was not a desirable quality. The result is pure propaganda, of a purity so unsullied by doubt that it stands as a benchmark of propaganda.
The film actually begins by announcing that America was an empty land full of land and resources until the Vikings landed in 1000 (they were not returning to Greenland from Norway but looking for more land) and are met by Indians, who, its pointed out, were immigrants from Asia. Then we see the Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock in search of religious freedom (!) and Washington with his Polish aids and on until the the Konowskis show up in New York.
I AM AN American (1944) is a no bones-about-it title. It concerns a couple from the "Polish Ukraine", Maria and Theodor Kanowski who arrive in New York's Castle Garden in 1853. It is stressed that this example is merely a didactic fiction as it could be immigrants from almost anywhere with any family name. Several are listed, but we come back to the Kanowskis. They walk to Ohio where they start farming and have children, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Martha Washington. The father goes off to the civil war in 1861 and comes back missing his right arm (He gives his good strong right arm for his country.) He starts over and prospers and has more children and grandchildren. It's 1898 and Spain has declared war and Father calls a family meeting and six of his grandsons go off to war, two coming back. One left on the battlefield and three to malaria. The Patriarch, now widowed, is seen in his bed, as America is about to enter WW1exhorting his decendents to join up to fight for their country. He leaves the responsibility of rallying the family for the next war to his son, George Washington Kanowski. The family is so large and scattered that he can't call a family meeting but must telegraph them.
Throughout it is stressed that this could be any family from any national background. Several times lists of counties and ethnic names are reeled off just in case we didn't get the message. Dennis Morgan is brought out to seal the deal though his speech is delivered in front of a rear screen projection of a mass rally. This is interesting for a couple of reasons. First of all the cadences of Dennis Morgan's speech were identical to those of Ronald Reagan. In other words a professional actor delivering "material". One might wonder why Maj. Ronald Reagan wasn't asked to do the job. First of all Dennis Morgan was a real star, someone who carried a "A" film on their own. Secondly Reagan was the head of the Air Corps film unit based at the Hal Roach Studio (Fort Wacky) whose films usually starred Reagan (JAP ZERO). I AM etc. was made at Warner Brothers. But its interesting that after the war, when Reagan began working for General Electric and Young and Rubicon and began making The Speech it would be based on the rhetoric of a propaganda movie.
Of course the importance of the film is to rally the various ethnic groups to the flag. Apparently this was a problem in the still segregated US Armed Services. There were north south rivalries as well as the dominant anglo-saxon culture refusing to co-operate with other ethnicities as well as Jews and Catholics. This was to sweep up in a rising tide of patriotism to reiterate the fact that all were Americans and we can win if we all fight together.
It's all very direct because the goal, victory in the war, was considered so paramount that subtlety was not a desirable quality. The result is pure propaganda, of a purity so unsullied by doubt that it stands as a benchmark of propaganda.
The film actually begins by announcing that America was an empty land full of land and resources until the Vikings landed in 1000 (they were not returning to Greenland from Norway but looking for more land) and are met by Indians, who, its pointed out, were immigrants from Asia. Then we see the Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock in search of religious freedom (!) and Washington with his Polish aids and on until the the Konowskis show up in New York.
Nice Drama
Michael_Elliott29 May 2009
I Am an American (1944)
*** (out of 4)
Propaganda piece is certainly flag-waiving but you have to consider that it was made during WW2. The film tells the story of two Polish immigrants who come to America and end up walking to Ohio where they start their family. The husband eventually loses an arm in the Civil War and every future war the family sends men off to fight for the land they love. This leads up to WW2 where more men must go and fight. This is certainly a very entertaining and uplifting film but I must throw in a nitpick because the movies main goal is to discuss how immigrants and great people come from all over the world yet the movie then overlooks blacks in this country who of course would have to deal with all sorts of negativity for the next few decades. For the film to preach yet leave out a group says quite a bit. With that said, this is a very good movie that certainly makes you feel patriotic, which was the entire point. Danny Kaye, Humphrey Bogart, Joan Leslie, Dennis Morgan and Knute Rockne are all seen in the film as well.
*** (out of 4)
Propaganda piece is certainly flag-waiving but you have to consider that it was made during WW2. The film tells the story of two Polish immigrants who come to America and end up walking to Ohio where they start their family. The husband eventually loses an arm in the Civil War and every future war the family sends men off to fight for the land they love. This leads up to WW2 where more men must go and fight. This is certainly a very entertaining and uplifting film but I must throw in a nitpick because the movies main goal is to discuss how immigrants and great people come from all over the world yet the movie then overlooks blacks in this country who of course would have to deal with all sorts of negativity for the next few decades. For the film to preach yet leave out a group says quite a bit. With that said, this is a very good movie that certainly makes you feel patriotic, which was the entire point. Danny Kaye, Humphrey Bogart, Joan Leslie, Dennis Morgan and Knute Rockne are all seen in the film as well.
High Treason has its consequences (just like Rigged Elections) . . .
oscaralbert9 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
. . . Warner Bros. warns We Americans of the (Then) Far Future with this prophetic live-action short, I AM AN AMER!AN. The hordes of Deplorable Traitors serving as pawns for current U.S. Strongman Vlad "The Mad Russian" Putin MUST be rooted "Out, wherever they might be!" sings what sounds like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as I AM closes. Few, if any, Millennials have even heard of "I AM AN AMER!CAN!" Day, the first of which was held on May 21, 1944, as documented here. Percolating just below the surface of THAT festival is the implicit message from Warner Bros. the we Normal Average Loyal Patriotic Blue Collar Working Stiff Union Label Americans featured on-screen here MUST remain ever vigilant and on-call to RID our beloved Homeland of any incoming tide of UnAmerican Usurpers, should such a sordid surf ever swamp our shores. Now that the sorry demonic debacle of which Warner warned us has been realized, it's up to we 99 Per Centers to boot out Putin's 80 million-plus Fellow Travelers. I AM AN AMER!CAN Day featured Obama Inauguration-sized crowds, NOT the comparatively sparse knots of Quislings duped into turning out for implementing Putin's Puppet Rump. Pigs might not really have wings, but it will be entertaining to watch all the Rumpsters catapulted and flying from our spacious skies into Canada once a phalanx of Traitors' Trebuchets is installed all along out Northern Border.
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