Prelude to War (1942): cast, story & where to watch
1942 · Film · ★ 6.4
Released in 1942, Prelude to War is a war, history and documentary film directed by Frank Capra, running about 53 minutes. “The US government puts the finger on the United Nations' enemies” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Prelude to War was the first film of Frank Capra's Why We Fight propaganda film series, commissioned by the Pentagon and George C. Marshall. It was made to convince American troops of the necessity of combating the Axis Powers during World War II. This film examines the differences between democratic and fascist states.
Who’s in it. Prelude to War stars Walter Huston as Self - Narrator (voice) and Max Schmeling as Self - German paratrooper (archive footage).
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Prelude to War has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo and MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video and FlixFling. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Prelude to War page.
If you liked it. Fans of Prelude to War tend to enjoy Schindler's List, Grave of the Fireflies, The Pianist and Apocalypse Now.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Prelude to War (1942)?
- In US, Prelude to War is available to stream on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo, and rent or buy from Amazon Video and FlixFling. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Prelude to War worth watching?
- Prelude to War holds an audience score of 6.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy war, history and documentary. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Prelude to War?
- Prelude to War stars Walter Huston and Max Schmeling.
- When was Prelude to War released?
- Prelude to War was released in 1942, with a runtime of about 53 minutes.