ThiefHott Too much of everything

SunnyHello Nice effects though.

Steineded How sad is this?

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

bkoganbing Seen today the Monroe Doctrine is a short subject that casts that piece of foreign policy issued in an address to Congress. The new republics of Latin America shook off the increasingly weakening rule of Spain when the country was preoccupied with its own survival during the Napoleonic wars. The powers in Europe not wanting any more of this revolution business wanted to see Spanish rule destroyed, a really mind boggling proposition when you think about it.One power did not and that was Great Britain. They wanted to open up those new markets in South America to trade and as a sea power that was their living. They wanted to make it joint declaration.President James Monroe and his Secretary of State and successor John Quincy Adams said thanks but no thanks. Nevertheless in 1823 we could make a bold declaration, but it was the British fleet at that time that gave it some teeth.Charles Waldron plays Monroe and Grant Mitchell is Adams and we get to see Sidney Blackmer doing his patented Theodore Roosevelt imitation. I really was amused when the Venezuelan boundary dispute is cited and it only says "a foreign power" was trying to take over Venezuela in 1894. The unnamed power was Great Britain, but President Grover Cleveland decided to negotiate this one and cooler heads prevailed in Great Britain as well. No way was Hollywood going to put out anything bad about Great Britain in 1939.The Monroe Doctrine has been also used to justify intervention in these Latin American republics, the latest being in 1965 when Lyndon Johnson went into the Dominican Republic which was of course after this film was made.The film is certainly an attempt to give the rosiest possible interpretation of the use of this famous statement of foreign policy.

Sillyhuron Hilarious propaganda short defending America's right to defend the rest of the western hemisphere from everyone else. (OK, the right to stop other nations "interfering" in them, with their dastardly foreign "despotism". Glad to see how democratic & liberty-loving the South Americans, especially, became). Sorry, but I'm Canadian. and it's difficult to watch a movie about this without making with the wisecracks. Henry Clay, a slave owner, is is shown eloquently defending democratic rights. Teddy Roosevelt emotes rather violently (the poor actor looks like he's about to pop his clogs) over America's peaceful intentions - and of course, not over his 3 different plans to invade Canada. One of these involved Britain's dispute about Venezuela - but it's interesting how she's never named (just called "a foreign power"). In fact the most interesting aspect of this movie is they way it attacks all European countries EXCEPT Britain. No mention of 1812 or the other disagreements in our history Why? Because it's 1939 folks & the British are now America's most valued allies. In fact they will have to be the ones stopping foreign despotism for nearly 2 years before America got involved. Anyway, the film itself is fast and fun to watch - for different reasons, depending where you come from. And Nanette Fabray & George Reeves make a wonderfully appealing couple whose love transcends national boundaries. Watch it and debate the ideas inside.

vitaleralphlouis Many years ago --- and unlike today --- Hollywood was dominated by people who loved mainstream American values and respected American history. In this era, Warner Bros. lavishly produced several short films such as "The Monroe Doctrine." These 20 minute movies had production quality equal to the best A-list movies."The Monroe Doctrine" is a very good one. Made back in 1939 in the new Technicolor, the way you would encounter these films were as add-on's to a feature, along with the cartoon, news and previews they rounded out the usual 2 hour program. It was strictly hit-n-miss about seeing these because the short subject program was rarely listed.If you want to see "The Monroe Doctrine" today, it will be easy. Just seek out the DVD for an A-list crime drama titled, "Invisible Stripes" starring George Raft, William Holden, Humphrey Bogart and Leo Gorcey. This short film is an add-on under Warner Night at the Movies.

Ron Oliver A Warner Brothers Short Subject.THE MONROE DOCTRINE asserts the rights of the Americas to be left alone from all European entanglements.This little film gives a good look at the reasons behind the Monroe Doctrine and how it was defined by succeeding American governments. It moves briskly and is well acted, especially by Grant Mitchell as John Quincy Adams and Sidney Blackmer as Teddy Roosevelt. Nanette Fabray & George Reeves very briefly portray young lovers caught up in history's flow.Often overlooked or neglected today, the one and two-reel short subjects were useful to the Studios as important training grounds for new or burgeoning talents, both in front & behind the camera. The dynamics for creating a successful short subject was completely different from that of a feature length film, something akin to writing a topnotch short story rather than a novel. Economical to produce in terms of both budget & schedule and capable of portraying a wide range of material, short subjects were the perfect complement to the Studios' feature films.