Introduction

A critical look at some of the promotional public relations activities of the US Defence Department.

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Outline

The aim of this film, produced by Peter Davis, was to examine the increasing utilisation and cost to the taxpayers of public relations activities by the military-industrial complex in order to shape public opinion in favour of the military.

Trivia

• Of the documentaries of the day, the most controversial was The Selling of the Pentagon, which reported on pro-Vietnam War government propaganda and on the relationship between the Pentagon and its corporate contractors.
• Controversy over the show – especially accusations that interviews had been edited in a way that distorted the meaning of what had actually been said – brought about a congressional investigation of the production processes for documentaries.
• Ultimately, Congress failed to obtain, as they had requested, CBS’s production materials beyond the finished programme that aired, but the investigation did result in the networks’ treading more carefully in the future.
• Although the documentary demonstrated television’s effectiveness as a medium for investigative journalism, it was left to the newspapers to uncover the truths, lies, and secrets of the Watergate scandal.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): Peter Davis.
• Producer(s): Peter Davis and Perry Wolff.
• Writer(s): Peter Davis.
• Editor(s): Dena Levitt.
• Production: CBS.
• Distributor(s): CBS.
• Release Date: 23 February 1971.
• Running Time: 60 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.