National Security Cinema by Matthew Alford & Tom Secker Summary

National Security Cinema exposes the US Department of Defense and CIA’s extensive influence over Hollywood, revealing how they shape scripts, censor critical content, and promote pro-military narratives in films like Iron Man, Transformers, and Argo. Drawing on 800+ movies and 1,100+ TV shows documented via FOIA requests, authors Alford and Secker argue this collaboration amounts to systemic propaganda disguised as entertainment.

This book is essential for film students, media scholars, and political science enthusiasts interested in government-media collusion. It offers critical insights for readers analyzing Hollywood’s role in perpetuating militarism, with case studies on blockbusters like Avatar and TV series like 24.

Yes—it provides unprecedented evidence of Pentagon and CIA script revisions, backed by declassified documents. The book’s analysis of films like Enemy of the State and Forrest Gump challenges perceptions of Hollywood as politically neutral, making it vital for understanding modern propaganda.

The Pentagon and CIA grant filmmakers access to military equipment/locations in exchange for script approvals, often removing scenes depicting war crimes or corruption. For example, Transformers scripts were altered to align with Defense Department messaging, while projects critical of the military (like Counterpart) faced rejection.

Yes—it critiques blockbusters like Iron Man (framing weapons manufacturers as heroes) and Argo (whitewashing CIA actions). Conversely, it praises films like Platoon and Starship Troopers for resisting government interference.

Alford argues that Hollywood serves as a “soft power” extension of the national security state, normalizing militarism through entertainment. By coopting popular franchises, agencies like the Pentagon embed pro-war ideologies in cultural narratives.

A standout analogy compares military propaganda to product placement: “Showing the U.S. military as defenders of justice is no different from showcasing a Coke can on screen”.

Some note repetitive passages and minor typos, but reviewers widely praise its groundbreaking research. The Los Angeles Times called it “an unsettling exposé of Hollywood’s hidden censors”.

Alford holds a PhD in government-Hollywood relations, authored Reel Power: Hollywood Cinema and American Supremacy, and co-produced the documentary Theaters of War based on this research.

With ongoing debates about AI-generated propaganda and military recruitment via VR, the book’s warnings about entertainment as a tool for “reality manufacturing” remain urgent. Its 2022 documentary adaptation further solidified its impact.

While Reel Power analyzes Hollywood’s broader political subservience, National Security Cinema focuses specifically on FOIA-revealed Pentagon/CIA manipulations, offering concrete examples like script edits to Top Gun.

• The military collaborated with Hollywood as early as 1911.
• Even family films like Meet the Parents required Pentagon approval.
• Tom Clancy adaptations underwent extensive script vetting to glorify intelligence agencies.

Alford advocates for public awareness and supports filmmakers like Oliver Stone who bypass Pentagon influence. He emphasizes transparency through FOIA requests as a tool for accountability.

The assertion that “every major studio film involving the military is functionally a recruitment ad” challenges perceptions of Hollywood as apolitical, drawing criticism from defense contractors and conservative media.