Despite the success that "The Blood of Jesus" enjoyed, Williams's next film was considered an epic failure and seen by few. The attempt to create a wartime drama resulted in the film "Marching On!" (1943). Set with World War II as the backdrop, the film was badly made and was left in the shadow of the Army financed film "The Negro Soldier" (1944). Most of the narrative seen in "Marching On" was influenced by William’s own time in the army during World War I. Due to an uneven and uninteresting plot the film was seen as a dud and was unable to garner the social acknowledgment that Williams had hoped it would receive.