All Else Confusion

I wonder if there's something in the air? Every time I'm thinking of a post, Dom posts it. This weekend, I already had Fr. Cantalamessa's comments on Ephesians picked out for comment, when I found Dom's post. Not so surprising you say, since it was the main topic of conversation this weekend.

But, now Dom's commenting on Hollywood and asking why Hollywood is so liberal. I've been thinking about the same idea, though from a little different angle for a few days. While doing research on all the classic movie stars being featured on TCM this month, I've been amazed that the number of stars who gave of themselves to their country in different ways, especially during World War II.

Many stars enlisted in the military, especially the Air Force. Jimmy Stewart was the first Hollywood star to enlist. He enlisted as a private in the Air Force after being reject by the Navy for being underweight. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and seven battle stars, becoming one of the most decorated stars in Hollywood. Stewart would stay in the Air Force Reserve after the war, eventually becoming a brigadier general, the highest ranking military officer in Hollywood. Clark Gable enlisted as a private, though he was over draft age, and flew missions over Nazi Germany; Tyrone Power joined the Marines and flew wounded Marines out of Iwo Jima; Alan Ladd thought it his duty to go to war, considering it "embarrasing to be living in the lap of luxury in Hollywood when other men were out dying"; Eddie Albert earned the Bronze Star for his action as a naval officer aiding the Marines at the battle of Tarawa; Lee Marvin was a U.S. Marine sniper/scout and was wounded on Iwo Jima; Leslie Howard was killed when his plane was shot down by the Luftwaffe.

Not all stars could join the military, but they helped out in a variety of ways. Carole Lombard was killed when her plane crashed returning to Hollywood after a bond drive in her hometown. Kay Kyser, Bette Davis, and John Garfield started the Hollywood Canteen where soldiers stationed on the West Coast could socialize and maybe bump into a movie star volunteer. Marlene Dietrich ignored Hitler's summons to go back to her native Germany and instead entertained American troops all over Europe - as close to the front as she could get. Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and many others conducted USO tours. Frank Capra directed a series of military films called Why We Fight, while other stars who remained at home, like John Wayne, Fred Astaire, and Judy Garland made movies that portrayed America as noble and winning the war or light-hearted movies for the troops and those they left behind. Hedy Lamarr invented "frequency hopping" with George Antheil as well as working on many bond drives; one story goes that she raised $7 million in one day selling bonds - by offering a kiss to each buyer. James Cagney brought the most decorated soldier of World War II, Audie Murphy, to Hollywood. Murphy starred in The Red Badge of Courage and To Hell and Back (where he played himself).

These stars gave of their time, their celebrity, their fortunes, and their lives to serve their country. As I think about Hollywood today, just 60 years later, there aren't many stars I can picture who would be willing to do the same.

Labels: movies