Miles, Morale, and Memories: Bob Hope and World War II

Miles, Morale and Memories: Bob Hope and WWII follows Bob Hope and his troupe of entertainer, including Frances Langford, Jerry Colonna, and Patty Thomas, who performed for troops at U.S. bases and in the European and South Pacific theaters during World War II as part of Hollywood’s effort to support the war effort. This documentary film reflects on these performances featuring archival footage and more.

Their bravery and relentless tour schedule brought Hope’s show close to the danger and the front lines in a mission to lift spirits and bring humor and hope to young combat soldiers. The servicemen and their families wrote thousands of letters acknowledging these fearless Hollywood stars’ impact on morale, sometimes noting that Hope’s show was the last moment of joy before catastrophic battles.

The questions offered in the discussion guide for this documentary film, which is under 60 minutes, are suitable for individuals, families, small groups, classrooms, and community settings. Whatever the size of your group, try to connect the film to participants’ experiences and personal memories about WWII, the use of humor to build morale during difficult times, and the various ways we can serve our country and each other.

Miles, Morale, and Memories: Bob Hope in World War II is part of our growing collection of documentary films from the World War II Foundation. To find out when we add more films to this collection, sign up for our newsletter.