One of the first major film projects undertaken by the military during World War II was a group of seven "orientation" films, collectively known as the "Why We Fight" series.  This Oscar-winning series of wartime documentaries was produced under the creative control of noted Hollywood film-maker Frank Capra (It's a Wonderful Life, Lost Horizon, It Happened One Night) in coordination with the U.S. War Department.  Their purpose was to explain to over nine million Americans in uniform the reasons for our entry into the war, and in fact, they became required viewing for all solders going overseas.  President Roosevelt was so impressed with the series, however, that he insisted it be shown to the general public in regular movie theaters.  As a result, "Prelude to War" won an Academy Award as Best Documentary in 1942.