For the Common Defense! (1942): cast, story & where to watch
1942 · Film · ★ 4
Released in 1942, For the Common Defense! is a drama and crime film directed by Allan Kenward, running about 22 minutes. “Another Crime Does Not Pay Subject” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. This Crime Does Not Pay short shows how cooperation among all the nations of the Americas helps the war effort. In this case, a US government agent travels to Chile and Colombia. He works with local authorities to try to thwart an Axis plan to ship stolen ammunition.
Who’s in it. For the Common Defense! stars John Litel as Subprefect Santiago Castillo, Douglas Fowley as Dutch Mullner, Stephen McNally as Lt. Guytan and Van Johnson as Agent Pritchard, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.0/10, For the Common Defense! has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch For the Common Defense! page.
If you liked it. Fans of For the Common Defense! tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch For the Common Defense! (1942)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for For the Common Defense! change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is For the Common Defense! worth watching?
- For the Common Defense! holds an audience score of 4.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in For the Common Defense!?
- For the Common Defense! stars John Litel, Douglas Fowley, Stephen McNally, Van Johnson and Egon Brecher.
- When was For the Common Defense! released?
- For the Common Defense! was released in 1942, with a runtime of about 22 minutes.