The rise of the great American dictator, coming to a theatre near you
Do you ever get the feeling that you've seen the dizzying rise of Donald Trump before?
There have been several films about leaders who rise up and lead the United States down a totalitarian road, and the popularity of a reality show host who uses racial scapegoating and fear mongering in his quest for the presidency sounds just like Hollywood's fears coming true.
Hollywood's warnings of a fascist America on-screen may serve as both a reminder to viewers that such a reality could be as close as an election away, and a prediction pointing out the vulnerability of politics.
What better time to refresh yourself on past films that looked at the fearsome scenario of a totalitarian leader than during the rise of Trump:
Guests in this segment:
- Kathryn Cramer Brownell, history professor at Purdue University and author of Showbiz Politics: Hollywood in American Political Life.
- Robert Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University.
This segment was produced by The Current's Howard Goldenthal and Kinsey Clarke.