Michael_Elliott Victory Through Air Power (1943)*** (out of 4) With WWII going full strength, everyone in Hollywood did what they could to bring attention and information to the screen and that includes Disney. This animated feature is pretty entertaining in its own right as we learn about the history of aviation and then go into details on how planes are playing a major role in the war.If you've seen any of the documentaries from this era then you're really not going to learn anything new here. The "Why We Fight" series pretty much covered this stuff in much greater detail but of course the one difference is that this film is animated. The Disney crew really did a terrific job with the animation as it's up to their usual high standards. Fans of Disney will certainly enjoy the animation but WWII buffs will also like the way the documentary shows the bombings at Pearl Harbor and the animated maps on the various issues America faces going up against Japan and Germany.

dionfly22 This film will change the way you look at cartoons. The power possessed by the cartoon to simplify and in this case "Disney-fy" the bloody politics of war, grows ever more chilling the more charming this cartoon gets. Victory Through Air Power is the crown jewel of this gem-laden Disney DVD called Disney Goes to War. I love it because it is such a simplified and clear teaching of the mid-WWII strategies intended by the powers employing Mr. Disney. Goebbels in the area of devastating propaganda, comes to mind while watching. America's fortunes could have been vastly different if Walt's talent's had been captured by the Nazis. See for yourself what a mix of emotions this film causes in you. To see that the same studio which produced Snow White and Bambi could so quickly and effectively recalibrate their drawing tables for War is spooky and makes you wonder what other messages lie hidden in the vast Disney canon.

arthurblenheim "Victory Through Air Power" (1943) is one of Disney's direct propaganda films for the U.S. State Department reiterating the 1942 book of the same name. It bounces between live-action segments, with briefing-style professed theories on the abstract value of air superiority, and segments with animated diagrams and maps supporting its theories. In combination with the Disney movie, the book's author presented the idea of separating air units away from the U.S. Army and into their own department. Soonafter, the U.S. Government formed the Air Force.This film is just one of the reminders that Walt Disney exists elsewhere from his current stature as a "children's movie producer." He was also a McCarthyist in favor of the blacklist during the Congressional witch hunts from the House UnAmerican Activities Committee (HUAC). To the day I write this, his company still censors Disney's Beethoven segment of "Fantasia" (1940) in VHS and DVD video releases due to a racial comment. Also, the only movie the company has not released of his original classics is "Song of the South," a movie about a little white boy who encounters a group of black storytellers. This writer is curious how, in the time of "Amos and Andy," Disney came up with an idea for a little black mouse in work overalls named "Mickey" which he voiced. These are interesting traits of Walt, none of which revolved around a lack of maturity.

madshell I just watched this feature last night from my copy of "Disney Treasures: On the Front Lines," which is an excellent set with many cartoon shorts, educational films, and propaganda films that are unusual of Disney, but nonetheless retain the same feel as the ordinary Disney short. Being a pacifist, I think that all people should try to understand warfare for what it is, but try to avoid jumping into war until it is absolutely necessary. WWII was indeed a necessary war to fight, and the film, though not specifically aimed to do so, makes this point very clear. First, before getting directly into the battles, the film educates us on the history of flight. With cartoon humour and sight gags it comes off very entertaining. Then, the film is turned over to Alexander de Seversky, author of the book on which the film is based. De Seversky makes a valid point that the war should be fought with an enlarged military air force as opposed to naval and land based tactics. He is made to be very informative and enjoyable to watch against the animated maps and diagrams created by Disney's finest animators.Eerily, there is a link to the 9/11 happening in the idea de Seversky expresses that air power removes the lines between civilians and soldiers and puts the lives of any of us at risk. It is fortunate that he had not lived to see this sad day.