Clayton Odie Sheffield

War Film: Historical Perspective or Simple Entertainment Clayton Odie Sheffield

This thesis studies the depiction of military life and actions in war movies. The public's perception of the military is shaped through a variety of means, one of which is the feature film showing at the local theater. The increase in population and the decrease in the size of the military have greatly enlarged the percent of the population that are not associated with a serviceperson or a veteran of one of the services. Their only means of obtaining information on the status and professionalism of the military is through what they are fed via the media. The movies produced by filmmakers within the United States affect the recruiting and public perception of the military through their portrayal of events, missions, and personnel. It is important for the Department of Defense and those serving to understand the significance that these films can have on the audience. Films are studied for historical accuracy, the making of the film to include Department of Defense assistance and input, and the portrayal of the soldiers, both officers and enlisted. This thesis concludes that war movies follow historical accuracy as closely as possible within resource constraints as long as the historical content is a good story.