Documentary Film Study–A Supplementary Aid to Public Relations

The success of two V. S. documentary films, “The Plow That Broke the Plains” and “The River,” written and directed by Pare Lorentz, has focused new attention upon this type of film. The school of Public Affairs of American University conducts a film course of eight weeks, with screenings, film analyses, and discussions conducted by visiting experts in film-making and film use. The subjects covered are: the newsreel as contemporary historian; the “March of Time” as a document; federal, educational, and scientific films; U. S. Government documentary films; documentary aspects of Hollywood films; foreign documentaries; industrial, sales, and domestic propaganda films. Technical aspects with reference to advances in film production were discussed. — In addition to regular discussion and study, a number of reports were made on documentary film activities. Among the most important was a complete survey of all U. S. government films.

Print ISSN

0097-5834

Published

1938-07

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J14657