A New History of Documentary Film

by Ellis, Jack C.; Mclane, Betsy A.

• ISBN13: 9780826417503
• ISBN10: 0826417507
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-08-30
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Academic

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Some Ways to Think About Documentary	1	(11)
Description	1	(2)
Definition	3	(1)
Intellectual Contexts	4	(2)
Pre-documentary Origins	6	(3)
Books on Documentary Theory and General Histories of Documentary	9	(3)
Beginnings: The Americans and Popular Anthropology, 1922-1929	12	(15)
The Work of Robert Flaherty	12	(10)
The Flaherty Way	22	(2)
Offshoots from Flaherty	24	(2)
Films of the Period	26	(1)
Books on the Period	26	(1)
Beginnings: The Soviets and Political Indoctrination, 1922-1929	27	(17)
Nonfiction	28	(10)
Fiction	38	(4)
Films of the Period	42	(1)
Books on the Period	42	(2)
Beginnings: The European Avant-Gardists and Artistic Experimentation, 1922-1929	44	(13)
Aesthetic Predispositions	44	(1)
Avant-Garde and Documentary	45	(3)
Three City Symphonies	48	(5)
End of the Avant-Garde	53	(2)
Films of the Period	55	(1)
Books on the Period	56	(1)
Institutionalization: Great Britain, 1929--1939	57	(20)
Background and Underpinnings	57	(3)
The System	60	(3)
The Films	63	(7)
Grierson and Flaherty	70	(3)
Grierson's Contribution	73	(1)
Films of the Period	74	(1)
Books on the Period	75	(2)
Institutionalization: United States, 1930--1941	77	(28)
Film on the Left	77	(1)
The March of Time	78	(2)
Government Documentaries	80	(12)
Nongovernment Documentaries	92	(5)
American and British Differences	97	(4)
Denouement	101	(1)
An Aside to Conclude	102	(1)
Films of the Period	103	(1)
Books on the Period	103	(2)
Expansion: Great Britain, 1939--1945	105	(15)
Early Days	106	(3)
Indoctrination	109	(4)
Social Documentary	113	(2)
Records of Battle	115	(3)
Films of the Period	118	(1)
Books on the Period	119	(1)
Expansion: Canada, 1939--1945	120	(10)
Founding of the National Film Board	121	(1)
Theatrical Series	122	(3)
Nontheatrical Films	125	(1)
Summary	126	(1)
Films of the Period	127	(1)
Books on the Period	128	(2)
Expansion: United States, 1941--1945	130	(18)
Training	131	(1)
Indoctrination	131	(4)
Records of Battle	135	(3)
Social Documentary	138	(3)
Comparisons: Great Britain, Canada, the United States	141	(5)
Films of the Period	146	(1)
Books on the Period	147	(1)
The Unfulfilled Promise: Postwar Documentary, 1945--1952	148	(19)
Personnel and Leadership	152	(3)
Sponsorship	155	(1)
Subjects	156	(7)
Approaches and Techniques	163	(1)
Final Observations	164	(1)
Films of the Period	164	(1)
Books on the Period	165	(2)
In Pursuit of Excellence: National Film Board of Canada's Unit B, 1948--1964	167	(12)
Films of the Period	177	(1)
Books on the Period	177	(2)
A New Channel: Documentary for Television, the ``Golden Years,'' 1951--1971	179	(17)
Historical Background	180	(1)
Documentary Series	181	(8)
Special Characteristics of Television Documentary	189	(4)
Films of the Period	193	(2)
Books on the Period	195	(1)
British Free Cinema and Social-Realist Features, 1956--1963	196	(12)
Critical Background	197	(1)
Free Cinema Films	197	(6)
Political and Cultural Context	203	(1)
Social-Realist Features	204	(2)
Films of the Period	206	(1)
Books on the Period	207	(1)
Direct Cinema and Cinema Verite, 1960--1970	208	(19)
Historical Background	208	(2)
New Technology and First Films	210	(5)
Direct Cinema vs Cinema Verite	215	(3)
Effects on Documentary Subjects and Styles	218	(4)
Aesthetic and Ethical Considerations	222	(2)
Films of the Period	224	(1)
Books on the Period	225	(2)
English-Language Documentary in the 1970s---Power of the People	227	(31)
Veteran Filmmakers	228	(7)
New Directions in Verite	235	(7)
Social and Political Emphases	242	(10)
Historical Documentary	252	(3)
Films of the Period	255	(1)
Books on the Period	256	(2)
English-Language Documentary in the 1980s---Video Arrives	258	(35)
Cable and Satellite Technology	260	(2)
The Personal Essay Film	262	(3)
The Historical Film	265	(5)
Strictly Political	270	(1)
Racial and Ethnic Minorities	271	(8)
Representing Gay and Lesbian Culture	279	(8)
Music and Performance	287	(4)
Films of the Period	291	(1)
Books on the Period	292	(1)
English-Language Documentary in the 1990s and Beyond---Reality Bytes	293	(33)
Business and Technology: The Bad and the Good	294	(3)
American Public Television	297	(2)
The Ken Burns Phenomenon	299	(3)
Canada Soldiers On	302	(2)
Developments in the United Kingdom	304	(6)
American Independents	310	(6)
Theatrical Documentary	316	(7)
Films of the Period	323	(1)
Books on the Period	324	(2)
Some Other Ways to Think About Documentary	326	(15)
Technological Promises	327	(1)
Aesthetics and Content	328	(2)
Finance	330	(2)
Intimate Doings of Reality	332	(2)
Newer Theory	334	(1)
The Future	335	(3)
Conclusion	338	(1)
Books on the Period	339	(2)
Appendices	341	(16)
One: Film Festivals	341	(4)
Two: Academy-Award-Winning Documentaries	345	(6)
Three: The National Film Registry	351	(2)
Four: The Grierson Award	353	(3)
Five: The Ida Awards	356	(1)
Index	357	(28)
Acknowledgments from Betsy A. McLane	385