The House on 92nd Street

This is an interesting film to examine because it takes its form less from documentary and still has a very propaganda-like nature to it. Perhaps it could be labeled a propaganda-narrative for the sake of this criticism. The overall message of the film is that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is the smartest law enforcement organization on the planet. In case the viewer had any question about this, they only need to watch the closing of the film where the shield of the FBI takes up the whole frame.

The way that the Germans are portrayed in the film is very similar to what one would expect from a propaganda film. The stereotype of the females being masculine in nature, for example, and the chance at every turn to show that the enemy cannot get away with anything under the watchful eye of the FBI; these work to make the viewer feel confident that the U.S. Government can prevail in the face of any danger, even the possibility of the Germans procuring the most dangerous weapon in the world.