Twelfth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

The formation of the League of Nations marked one of the greatest efforts to institutionalize an agenda for world peace in the immediate years after World War I. Its chief architect, American President Woodrow Wilson, believed that the League would allow the United States to steer the course of globalization though open markets and diplomacy. However, the decision to ratify the United States’ membership in the League proved controversial and divided the Senate dramatically. To break the deadlock, Wilson knew that he had to muster tremendous support from the public. Consequently, he and his advisers worked closely with figures in the American and European film industries to release the seven-reel epic Whom the Gods Would Destroy (1919). Designed to rally support for Wilson’s peace crusade, the film promised audiences a powerful romance and a “vivid account of a League of Nations.” Though the film is now considered lost, it is still possible to explore its content and influence through surviving print materials. Due to the film’s unique blend of entertainment and political activism, dozens of transatlantic peace organizations endorsed it and incorporated it into their outreach activities. It helped popularize Wilson’s internationalist message and create a market for peace propaganda films in the United States and Europe. Examining the production, release, and reception of the film provides a unique window into the divisive politics of the League’s formation and the heated debate over the United States’ role as an arbiter in global affairs.