The United States movie industry in World War I

On February 3, 1918 Mary's sister read the book A Yankee in the Trenches to Mary.  Mary says that the book is similar to Over the Top by Arthur Guy Empey.  Empey was an American who volunteered to serve in World War I long before the U.S. officially participated in the war.  He served with British forces.  His book and 1918 film by the same name was based on his wartime experiences.  Empey became a celebrated proponent of the U.S. war effort, touring throughout the country and drawing large crowds.

Almost immediately after declaring war on Germany in April 1917, President Woodrow Wilson established the Committee on Public Information and appointed George Creel to head the propaganda effort as "propagation of faith".  The effort included a multifaceted approach to promoting the war effort.  Volunteer "Four Minute Men" recruited by the Committee on Public Information spoke at movie theaters and other social gatherings, limiting their pro-war rhetoric to four minutes.  The U.S. movie industry, which before April 1917 had often promoted isolationalism and neutrality quickly shifted to a pro-war stance.  Movie stars traveled around the country to raise money for war bonds, the Liberty Loans.  Many movies that Mary attended in 1918 were propaganda efforts to promote and sustain support for the U.S. war effort.   Her comments reflect her support and sympathy for the fighting men overseas and the sometimes romantic themes reinforced her longing for her own soldier boy, Frankie.