People Of Russia 1942

In the 1920s and 30s, and from 1945 ~ 1990, the Soviet Union was considered by most Americans to be an adversary. But for a brief window during WWII, the Soviet Union was our ally, and popular culture responded accordingly. Stalin became "Uncle Joe" and popular films of the time portrayed the Soviet Union in favorable, if not heroic light. US ambassador to the USSR at the time. Joseph Davies, was prominent among USSR boosters with newspaper articles, books and even movie appearances ("Mission to Moscow")

Here is one extraordinary example -- an MGM production from 1942 profiling the "People of Russia". It is one of the James Fitzpatrick ("Voice of the Globe") series of travelogues that had been popular since the 1930s. While showing clips of Moscow city life and propaganda parades, the narrator lauds the throwing off of the old aristocracy, the collectivization of agriculture, rights of women, educational advances etc. and Stalin appears as the benevolent mastermind leading the Russian people into the future.

The glossing over of the political purges, mass starvation, etc. is a bit chilling, but nevertheless a fascinating look at how war and politics can often make for strange bedfellows.