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John GriersonJohn Grierson Influenced by the RussiansInfluenced by the Russians A socialist not a communistA socialist not a communist Son of a school master/teacherSon of a school master/teacher Extremely opinionatedExtremely opinionated Came to U.S. in 1924 to study Came to U.S. in 1924 to study

public opinion and power of media public opinion and power of media (Rockefeller grant)(Rockefeller grant)

Grierson vs. Flaherty

Grierson vs. Flaherty

FlahertyFlaherty

Concerned about individual (a hero)Concerned about individual (a hero)

Man vs. natureMan vs. nature

Pessimistic about change but optimistic Pessimistic about change but optimistic about individual human beings about individual human beings

Lived with subjects/really knew themLived with subjects/really knew them

Shot lots of footage/created film on Shot lots of footage/created film on editing benchediting bench

Grierson vs. FlahertyGrierson vs. Flaherty

GriersonGrierson

Working man as heroWorking man as hero

Change can occur & make things betterChange can occur & make things better

Need focus on the masses rather than Need focus on the masses rather than individualindividual

Documentaries with a social purpose -Documentaries with a social purpose -

a point of view to change viewera point of view to change viewer

Reliance on script and preproductionReliance on script and preproduction

GriersonGrierson

Wanted to make film a social Wanted to make film a social forceforce

Emphasis on power of media to Emphasis on power of media to persuade, educate, changepersuade, educate, change

Doc. a force for change Doc. a force for change notnot an an art or entertainmentart or entertainment

Grierson’s Film UnitsGrierson’s Film Units EMB (Empire Marketing EMB (Empire Marketing

Board) 1928-1933Board) 1928-1933

G.P.O (Gov’t Post Office)G.P.O (Gov’t Post Office) 1933-1939 1933-1939

Grierson’s FilmsGrierson’s Films More of a producer than directorMore of a producer than director Drifters Drifters (1929)(1929) Granton TrawlerGranton Trawler (1934) (1934) NightmailNightmail (1936) (1936) By 1933 staff had grown from 2 to 30 By 1933 staff had grown from 2 to 30

employees.employees. Trained almost all of the British Trained almost all of the British

documentary movement in perioddocumentary movement in period

Song of CeylonSong of Ceylon Made by E.M.B. for Tea Propaganda Made by E.M.B. for Tea Propaganda

Board in 1935Board in 1935ProducerProducer: Grierson : Grierson

Director:Director: Basil Wright Basil Wright

Four parts:Four parts:– The Buddha -- religionThe Buddha -- religion

– The Virgin Island -- land, peopleThe Virgin Island -- land, people

– The Voices of CommerceThe Voices of Commerce

– The Apparell of GodThe Apparell of God

Nightmail (1936)Nightmail (1936)

Made for G.P.O.Made for G.P.O.

Dir: Basil Wright, Harry WattDir: Basil Wright, Harry Watt

Narration by Poet Laureate: Narration by Poet Laureate:

W.H. AudenW.H. Auden

Grierson’s ProtegesGrierson’s Proteges

Basil WrightBasil Wright Harry WattHarry Watt Edgar AnsteyEdgar Anstey Paul RothaPaul Rotha John TaylorJohn Taylor Humphrey JenningsHumphrey Jennings and many, many othersand many, many others

Grierson’s ImpactGrierson’s Impact Trained countless filmmakersTrained countless filmmakers In 1939 headed the National Film In 1939 headed the National Film

Board of Canada -- spreading influence Board of Canada -- spreading influence across the Atlanticacross the Atlantic

Wrote and lectured extensivelyWrote and lectured extensively The first clear, coherent definition of The first clear, coherent definition of

the documentary and what it should be the documentary and what it should be used for (i.e. used for (i.e. social change)social change)

American DocumentaryAmerican Documentary

The Roosevelt Administration began a The Roosevelt Administration began a film effort under the film effort under the Resettlement Resettlement AdministrationAdministration -1935 -1935

Money came from W.P.A.Money came from W.P.A. Rexford Tugwell appointed headRexford Tugwell appointed head R.A. later declared unconstitutional -- R.A. later declared unconstitutional --

moved into Agriculture Departmentmoved into Agriculture Department Objective: knowledge cures povertyObjective: knowledge cures poverty

Enter Pare LorentzEnter Pare Lorentz Film critic fired by W.R. HearstFilm critic fired by W.R. Hearst

Approached Tugwell with idea Approached Tugwell with idea based on magazine article by based on magazine article by Archibald MacLeish -- History of Archibald MacLeish -- History of great plains exploitationgreat plains exploitation

The Plow That Broke the Plains (1935)

The Plow That Broke the Plains (1935)

Lorentz had no production Lorentz had no production backgroundbackground

Gathered his crew from the Gathered his crew from the FILM FILM AND PHOTO LEAGUEAND PHOTO LEAGUE in N.Y.: in N.Y.:– Ralph Steiner,Ralph Steiner, Paul Strand,Paul Strand, Leo HurwitzLeo Hurwitz

Worked from outline only and tiny Worked from outline only and tiny $6,000 budget -- lots of in-fighting$6,000 budget -- lots of in-fighting

Lorentz’s ProblemsLorentz’s Problems

Couldn’t get stock footage from Couldn’t get stock footage from Hollywood - feared gov’t filmmakingHollywood - feared gov’t filmmaking– Director King Vidor to rescueDirector King Vidor to rescue

Couldn’t get theatres to show it.Couldn’t get theatres to show it.– Eventually premiered at Arthur Mayer’s Eventually premiered at Arthur Mayer’s

Rialto Theatre in N.Y.Rialto Theatre in N.Y.

3,000 indep. theatres showed it (out of 3,000 indep. theatres showed it (out of 14,000 in U.S.)14,000 in U.S.)

Good News/Bad News Good News/Bad News “ “Plow” received good reviewsPlow” received good reviews Linked with democratic party and Linked with democratic party and

attacked as socialisticattacked as socialistic Lorentz so exhausted he went to Lorentz so exhausted he went to

Tugwell to give resignationTugwell to give resignation Pointed at map --- and began work Pointed at map --- and began work

on on THE RIVERTHE RIVER (1937) (1937)

The River (1937)The River (1937)

Different cinematographers -- who Different cinematographers -- who shot lots more film: Willard Van Dyke, shot lots more film: Willard Van Dyke, Floyd Cozby, Horace and Stacey Floyd Cozby, Horace and Stacey WoodwardWoodward

1937 floods occurred during shooting 1937 floods occurred during shooting and they had to go back & shoot moreand they had to go back & shoot more

Roosevelt saw it, loved it, and he Roosevelt saw it, loved it, and he convinced Paramount to distribute the convinced Paramount to distribute the film nationwide.film nationwide.

U.S. Film Service (1938)U.S. Film Service (1938)

Established under the National Established under the National Emergency CouncilEmergency Council

Lorentz as head --- but he was a Lorentz as head --- but he was a terrible manager.terrible manager.

A few films:A few films:

The LandThe Land (Flaherty) (Flaherty)

Power and the LandPower and the Land (Ivens) (Ivens)

Fight for Life Fight for Life (Lorentz)(Lorentz)

Attacks on Lorentz and U.S. Film Service

Attacks on Lorentz and U.S. Film Service

Films criticized as socialisticFilms criticized as socialistic Inevitably linked to New DealInevitably linked to New Deal House Committee on House Committee on

Appropriations killed funding in Appropriations killed funding in 1941.1941.

Gov’t Filmmaking in U.S.Gov’t Filmmaking in U.S.

1. Should the government make 1. Should the government make films?films?

2. What kind?2. What kind?

3. Who pays?3. Who pays?

4. Biggest problem --- how to get 4. Biggest problem --- how to get them shown.them shown.

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