Polska historia w europejskim i amerykańskim kinie epoki dźwięku
Polish History in the European and American Era of Sound Film

Until the Outbreak of the 2nd World War – Part Two

Summary/Abstract: At the time of sound film (to the outbreak of the 2nd World War), Polish historical themes appeared in several German, French, Austrian and American feature films. Especially Germans involved in filmmaking were interested in the issues of Polish history, particularly at the time of the Third Reich, when the cinema was controlled by the government. Temporary thaw in Polish-German relations brought some film productions favourable to the Poles and their fight for freedom. Engineered by the authorities, some were even a co-production as a result of negotiations, ase.g. August der Starke (1936). The analysis of historical Polish themes in the American and European cinema shows close relation between cinema and national literary and artistic tradition of the time. It was a general rule that subsequent transformations of popular themes were appearing, along with changing meansof expression and technical capabilities. In that tradition Polish themes were rare and not many of them could be found in plots of contemporary historical films. Apart from that, common historical memorials” turned the attention of filmmakers to Polish themes, i.e. moments when Polish history crossed with their own historical events. In other cases it could have been some direct incentives from the part of the totalitarian authorities willing to show good relations with Poland or, for instance, to justify the occupation of its territory. In that “nationalized” cinema, which needed legitimisation of its propaganda, a strategy of “factual camouflage” appeared – borrowing of historical props (e.g. the crown of Charles the Great), hiring consultants, etc.

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