What We Want Is Peace!: The Fight For Peace

Presented by Al Maysles

Hendrik Willem Van Loon (1938), 70 min.

This film presents a simple historical account of the First World War and introduces the major players in the Second. The dramatic voiceover and “storybook” format make this seem a little ridiculous for modern viewers. However, it is valuable because it demonstrates the sort of bias that is present during the 1930s due to the fear of Stalinist communism. This documentary does not provide any new information for anyone who has studied the two wars, but what it does give is a sense of what was considered a documentary during this time of fear.