Cold War Conformity: What it Means to be an American DVD (1952)

One of the sunniest 1950s propaganda movies ever, What It Means To Be An American sparkles with smiling, friendly jingoism. As the cold war raged, videos like this one aimed to solidify the American identity: freedom, hard work, prosperity, and (implied) conformity. The film is often bizarre, as it marches down a mysterious collection of American "privileges" that other countries can't or don't enjoy: like sandboxes and luxury cars. But overall the film sits right at the bedrock of 1950s values and places them on an unassailable mountain peak. What It Means To Be An American is the pinnacle of 1950s conformist propaganda.

• Title: What it Means to be an American

• Year: 1952

• Run Time:22:03

• Audio/Visua: Sound, Color