Pare Lorentz and the US documentary
in the 1930s
Characteristics & development of
US documentary
Connected to political positions – mostly on the left
Faced central issues of 1930s – Depression
unemployment & poverty
unionism
growth of fascism in Europe
Four developments in 1930s
1. documentaries on the Left
2. federally sponsored documentary production
3. The March of Time series
4. Non-government documentaries
1. Films on the Left
1930 New York City - Workers’ Film and Photo League
later Film and Photo League
to train filmmakers to present a view not shown in media
Connected to Film and Photo League - Elia Kazan
Ralph Steiner
Split - one group --- agit prop cinema (Soviet style)
other --- esthetic values & emotional appeal
2. The March of Time
Monthly film series - sponsored by Life magazine
Created by Louis de Rochemont
Prototype of the “compilation documentary” pioneer by Esther
Shub in the Soviet Union
Theatrical release
Occupied a unique place, identified with a liberal stance
Substantial & sustained success until coming of television
documentary
At its peak - 20 million viewers a month
9,000 theaters
Distributed internationally
Tackled international issues - Inside Nazi Germany 1938
Modest resources – fixed format
. Narrator - Westbrook Van Voorhis “voice of God”
. Dramatized the news
. Largely stock footage
. Music & and sparse sound effects cut to picture
. Fast, rhythmic editing
Lasted from 1933 to 1951
3. Government documentaries
Begins 1935 - in Griersonian sense – with
Guy Tugwell & the newly created Resettlement Administration
goal – to use film to divulge the R.A.’s program
The Resettlement Agency – like Public Works Administration
Civilian Conservation Corps
Works Projects Administration
Created to help solve problems presented by the Great Depression
The Resettle Administration & Pare Lorentz
Lorentz – New York film critic, politically liberal
No previous movie experience
Wanted to make a dramatic/informational/persuasive film
Funded to make The Plow that Broke the Plains 1936
Indictment of causes leading to the Dust Bowl
Produced/Directed/Written by Lorentz
Cinematographers – Paul Strand, Ralph Steiner
Music – Virgil Thompson
Glowing reviews but poor distribution
Considered an American classic
The Farm Security Administration
The Resettlement Administration became
The Farm Security Administration
Comissioned Lorentz to make documentary about
need to control the Mississippi floods
The River 1937
Compelling plea for national flood control & soil conservation
Presents the Tennessee Valley Authority as solution
The River 1937
Written & directed by Lorentz
Cinematographers - Willard Van Dyke, Floyd Crosby
Music - Virgil Thompson - hymns & popular tunes
Narrator - key to the film – lyrical
free verse litany of geographical names
Distributed to 5,000 theaters
Wide non-theatrical release
Other government-sponsored film
1938 Roosevelt administration sets the US Film Service Production
First production - The Fight for Life 1940 Pare Lorentz
semi-documentary for Public Health Service
1940 - Power and Land Joris Ivens
1941 - The Land Robert Flaherty
Pare Lorentz’ contribution to US documentary
Established precedent for government use of documentaries
Involved in making five important films by government agencies
Developed an original, personal style
that became a national style
Took the US documentary to an artistic level
4. Non-governmental documentaries
Private sponsorship
Key organization - Frontier Films - indirectly derived from
Film & Photo League
Tackles the national & international issues of the 1930s.
1937 The Spanish Earth Joris Ivens
Narration by Ernest Hemingway
China Strikes Back Jay Leyda
1938
People of the Cumberland Elia Kazan