The Director’s Cut, Part II: Manipulation

In the first part of “The Director’s Cut,” I recounted autobiographical experiences with filmmakers who’d exploited my ignorance with cinematic adaptations of literary figures. I’d been completely misled by the camera’s perverted depiction of fictional characters lifted from the printed page. Today’s post continues that theme by examining instances where filmmakers intentionally sought to manipulate their audience for propagandistic purposes. Move over Tarzan, Frankenstein, and 007—make way for Hitler, Khrushchev, and JFK.