Documentary Film Movement
Encyclopedia
The Documentary Film Movement is the name given to the group of British film-makers, led by John Grierson
, who were influential in British film culture in the 1930s and 1940s.
in 1930. The unit was headed by John Grierson
, who appointed apprentices such as Basil Wright
, Arthur Elton, Edgar Anstey
, Stuart Legg
, Paul Rotha
and Harry Watt
. These film-makers were mostly young, middle-class, educated males with liberal political views. In 1933, the film unit was transferred to the General Post Office
.
From 1936, the movement began to disperse and divisions emerged. Whereas previously the documentary film movement had been located in a single public sector organisation, it separated in the late 1930s into different branches, as film-makers explored other possibilities for developing documentary film. By 1937, the movement was spread across four different production units: GPO, Shell
(headed by Anstey), Strand (headed by Rotha) and Realist (led by Wright).
In 1939, Grierson left Britain to work with the National Film Board of Canada
, where he remained until 1945. In 1940, the GPO Film Unit was transferred to the Ministry of Information and renamed the Crown Film Unit.
John Grierson
John Grierson was a pioneering Scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of British and Canadian documentary film. According to popular myth, in 1926, Grierson coined the term "documentary" to describe a non-fiction film.-Early life:Grierson was born in Deanston, near Doune, Scotland...
, who were influential in British film culture in the 1930s and 1940s.
Principles
The founding principles of the movement were based on Grierson's views of documentary film. He wished to use film to educate citizens in an understanding of democratic society.History
The movement began at the Film Unit of the Empire Marketing BoardEmpire Marketing Board
The Empire Marketing Board was formed in May 1926 by the Colonial Secretary Leo Amery to promote inter-Empire trade and to persuade consumers to 'Buy Empire'...
in 1930. The unit was headed by John Grierson
John Grierson
John Grierson was a pioneering Scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of British and Canadian documentary film. According to popular myth, in 1926, Grierson coined the term "documentary" to describe a non-fiction film.-Early life:Grierson was born in Deanston, near Doune, Scotland...
, who appointed apprentices such as Basil Wright
Basil Wright
Basil Wright, , was a documentary filmmaker, film historian, film critic and teacher.-Biography:...
, Arthur Elton, Edgar Anstey
Edgar Anstey
Edgar Anstey OBE, , was a leading British documentary film-maker....
, Stuart Legg
Stuart Legg
Stuart Legg was a documentary film-maker.As part of the British Documentary Film Movement, he worked with the General Post Office film unit from 1933, before replacing Paul Rotha as head of Strand Films in 1937...
, Paul Rotha
Paul Rotha
Paul Rotha was a British documentary film-maker, film historian and critic. He was educated at Highgate School....
and Harry Watt
Harry Watt (director)
Harry Watt was a Scottish documentary and feature film director, who began his career working for John Grierson and Robert Flaherty. His 1959 film The Siege of Pinchgut was entered into the 9th Berlin International Film Festival...
. These film-makers were mostly young, middle-class, educated males with liberal political views. In 1933, the film unit was transferred to the General Post Office
General Post Office
General Post Office is the name of the British postal system from 1660 until 1969.General Post Office may also refer to:* General Post Office, Perth* General Post Office, Sydney* General Post Office, Melbourne* General Post Office, Brisbane...
.
From 1936, the movement began to disperse and divisions emerged. Whereas previously the documentary film movement had been located in a single public sector organisation, it separated in the late 1930s into different branches, as film-makers explored other possibilities for developing documentary film. By 1937, the movement was spread across four different production units: GPO, Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
(headed by Anstey), Strand (headed by Rotha) and Realist (led by Wright).
In 1939, Grierson left Britain to work with the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
, where he remained until 1945. In 1940, the GPO Film Unit was transferred to the Ministry of Information and renamed the Crown Film Unit.
Further reading
- Aitken, Ian (ed.), The Documentary Film Movement: An Anthology (Edinburgh, 1998)
- Aitken, Ian, Film and Reform: John Grierson and the Documentary Film Movement
- Fox, JoJo FoxProfessor Jo Fox is an academic historian specialising in the history of film and propaganda in twentieth-century Europe. She is currently a professor at Durham University....
, 'John Grierson, his "documentary boys" and the British Ministry of Information', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and TelevisionHistorical Journal of Film, Radio and TelevisionThe Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television is an academic journal dedicated to the study of media history. It is published quarterly by Routledge on behalf of the International Association for Media and History. The current editor-in-chief is James Chapman ....
, 25 (2005), pp. 345-369 - Hood, Stuart, 'John Grierson and the documentary film movement', in James Curran and Vincent Porter (eds.), British Cinema History
- Sussex, Elizabeth, The Rise and Fall of British Documentary: The Story of the Film Movement Founded by John Grierson
- Swann, Paul, The British Documentary Film Movement, 1926-1946