On January 31, 1939, Pare Lorentz’s film The Fight for Life was shown just before midnight in the White House. The President told Lorentz that it was a “fine movie” and he hoped it would do some good.

The film was released to the public in 1940 and focused on infant and maternal mortality in the United States. It was considered experimental as an early documentary film because Lorentz employed actors as well as the film’s subjects.

The President’s mother, Mrs. James Roosevelt, said, “It’s an interesting movie but I don’t think it should be shown in mixed company.”

View the film on the FDR Library YouTube channel.