Hollywood and the Pentagon: A Dangerous Liaison

Hollywood and the Pentagon: A Dangerous Liaison analyses how the long and storied relationship between Hollywood and the US Army has resulted in arrangements such as the United States Department of Defense maintaining a liaison office in Los Angeles dedicated to working with the film industry. The film goes on to discuss how gaining access to military locations and equipment often comes with the significant drawback of scripts being edited to portray war and the armed forces in a favourable light.

While some may assume that the relationship between film and the military is a recent development, the documentary demonstrates that Hollywood was heavily influenced by the armed forces as far back as the Second World War. This influence has contributed to a long-standing tendency to romanticise soldiers, despite the fact that they have committed violent acts against those once labelled as ‘the enemy’. The film features interviews with military officials who candidly discuss their involvement with productions such as Black Hawk Down and Top Gun.