"Watch This 'Dirty' Movie Army Vet, Dr. Seuss, Made for World War II"

RallyPoint Shared Content — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 11:09:21 -0400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=225&v=xltO0Xcdm1s

From: The SITREP

During World War II, the United States Army Air Corps (which would later break off and form its own branch — i.e. the U.S. Air Force we know and love today) had a “First Motion Picture Unit”. A unit devoted entirely to make films (some might label them “propaganda” but nonetheless) that would in theory boost morale and the collective spirit of the American people during turbulent and often meager wartime conditions.

The First Motion Unit wasn’t a ragtag outfit, either. It was essentially an all-star team, assembled to kick ass and take names when it came to the art of movies and their ability to invoke catharsis, persuasion and overall entertainment — with a purpose.

Wait until you hear this lineup, via Esquire:

It’s a Wonderful Life director Frank Capra spearheaded the initiative. He created the cartoon character named “Private Snafu” to teach soldiers everything from security, to proper sanitation habits, to Nazi booby traps. Veteran animator Chuck Jones directed the shorts, with Bugs Bunny voice actor Mel Blanc providing Snafu’s vocals. And for dialogue, Capra turned to none other than Army Captain Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss.

That was the supergroup. With Geisel on drums. Err, words. And oh was he versatile. Far from the cutesy, playful rhyming he would cement his legacy with through children’s books that are as timeless and cherished in the American lexicon as the works of Twain, Hemingway or Faulkner — “Dr. Seuss” exercised a whole different set of creative muscles with the Snafu cartoons, at the direct request of Capra himself.

What did the legendary director want? He wanted dirty. He wanted crude. He wanted sex. He wanted “busty Nazi spies” and the like. And oh, did our man Seuss deliver.

https://military.id.me/community-news/watch-these-dirty-movies-army-vet-dr-seuss-made-for-world-war-ii/

Take a look at the example below — courtesy of the National Archives:

Private Snafu in "Censored.", 1944

Help us caption and translate this video on Amara.org: http://amara.org/en/videos/MpwD2F888urE/info/private-snafu-in-censored-1944/ Creator(s): Department of...

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 28 at 2015 11:15 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 11:15:19 -0400

These wouldn't be politically correct today!

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Aug 28 at 2015 12:27 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 12:27:13 -0400

This is awesome! I love Private Snafu. I had no idea that it was Dr. Seuss who did these.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2015 1:04 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 13:04:28 -0400

Is that Bugs Bunny's voice??? It has to be. Cool

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 28 at 2015 2:09 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 14:09:53 -0400

Loose lips sink ships.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2015 1:35 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 01:35:58 -0400

While travelling on orders with some other Airmen (overseas), We encountered a loud-mouthed person wearing some ripstop pants and an OCP fleece talking pretty loud to a female in the terminal about what he does or did. He was talking about two-star this or two-star that.
Correcting his douchebaggery out loud would have brought more attention to his jaw -flapping, so I wrote him a quick note telling him to STFU, "loose lips sink ships." He shut up for the rest of the trip.
Turns out he was going to the same destination as us. As we were checking in at the base, I saw on his ID that he was a Navy Captain (O-6). SMH what is wrong with people?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 29 at 2015 6:42 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 06:42:04 -0400

Very Interesting, Interesting Man Theodore Geisel. Great Author and Cartoonist. My Mother Read Sneetches to me when I was very young and I got it for my Grandchildren. Great Social and Moral teachings in his books. If I understand right he never had any children of his own and wasn't particularly good with children while writing the best children's books. Prior to the US Entry into WWII he was a Political Cartoonist and he slammed the AXIS Leaders regularly in his Newspaper Cartoon. I used to have a book that was a collection of his Political Cartoons.