The Academy is proud to present a rare series of films produced for the post-World War II "European Recovery Program" (ERP), more popularly known as the Marshall Plan. Looking at the robust economies of today's European nations, it is difficult to recall that they were on their knees after the war. Launched by U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall, the Marshall Plan transferred nearly $13 billion ($90 billion today) of material and technical assistance to Europe. As a part of this plan films were produced for screening in European nations. (In fact, until 1990 screening these films in the U.S. was forbidden by Congressional Law, because Americans were not to be "propagandized" with their own tax money).

The Marshall Plan filmmakers were charged with creating films to persuade whole societies to lay down the weapons and bitterness of war and to work toward peaceful co-existence in a "democratic" manner. They were designed to disseminate information, provide technical assistance, promote the role of the individual in society (as opposed to Nazism and Communism) and promote economic cooperation. This unique group of filmmakers used every type of narrative form including documentary and animation to get their points across, resulting in a diverse selection of films that provide a distinct historical viewpoint, as well as a surprisingly educational and entertaining one of how the U.S. perceived itself and the world after the war.

Many of the films in this series (marked with an *) have been preserved by the Academy Film Archive.

PROGRAM 1: OUT OF THE RUINS - Wednesday, April 6th

Hunger
It's Up to You*
Between East and West*
The Bridge*
Life and Death of a Cave City
Hoen Zo
Me and Mr. Marshall

PROGRAM  2: HELP IS ON THE WAY - Wednesday, April 13th

Extraordinary Adventures of a Quart of Milk*
Town without Water*
The Home We Love*
Island of Faith*
Rice and Bulls*
Hansel and the 200,000 Chickens
ERP in Action Vol. 1 No. 5*

PROGRAM  3: TRUE FICTION - Wednesday, April 20th

The Promise of Barty O'Brien*
Let's Be Childish
The Smiths and the Robinsons
The Story of Koula*
Aquila

PROGRAM 4: STRENGTH FOR THE FREE WORLD - Wednesday, April 27th

The Shoemaker and the Hatter*
Hour of Choice
Without Fear
Struggle for Men's Minds
Whitson Holiday
Do Not Disturb! *

Presented in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut and the German Historical Museum.

Made possible in part by a grant from the German Marshall Fund of the United States and support from the George C. Marshall Foundation.