“The first producer to attempt a serious film on events in Europe was an independent, Walter Wanger. He released Blockade through United Artists in 1938. […] However, the national uproar that ensued over the film heightened the apprehension about political films in some major studios. […] Wanger discussed the idea of a film on Spain with director Lewis Milestone as early as 1936 and hired the erstwhile radical playwright CIifford Odets to do the screenplay. Wanger was unhappy with Odets’ work and in October 1937 brought John Howard Lawson into the project. […] Wanger submitted Lawson’s script to Breen in January 1938. The script, though very cautious, worried Breen. Deathly afraid of taking sides, he warned Wanger that great care should be exercised to avoid identification with either side. […] Blockade opened at the New York Radio City Music Hall in June 1938. […] It was boycotted and picketed by Catholic organizations throughout the United States. […] The Legion of Decency attacked it, and parish priests warned their flock not to see it”. (G. Black, C.Koppes, Hollywood Goes to War, University of California Press, 1987)

“Blockade is a film with a purpose, which shouldn’t be held against it because the purpose is a worthy one – a plea against war. Particularly modern warfare with its devastation of unfortified cities and the consequent butchery of civilians, and its merciless starving of populations by submarine blockade of food supplies. Vehement in its message, realistic in its appeal, the picture is distinctive, different and provocative. […] It is reported in Hollywood that the Hays office production code administration advised radical alterations in the original script to avoid offense to foreign powers. Fact is, that the strength and power of a film of this type reside in offensiveness and partisanship.” (Variety, June 8,1938)