Semidocumentary
Encyclopedia
Semidocumentary is a form of book, film, or television program presenting a fictional story that incorporates many factual details or actual events, or which is presented in a manner similar to a documentary
. Stylistically, it has certain similarities to Italian Neorealism
, such as the use of location shooting and employing non-actors in secondary roles.
One of the first films of this kind was The House on 92nd Street
(1945): Time used the term "semidocumentary" to describe this film in 1952 http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,816557,00.html. The producer of the film had previously worked on newsreels which inspired the film-making style.
In the late 1940s, semidocumentary films were often associated with film noir
thrillers, sharing a commitment to on-location shooting, gritty realism, and understated performances. Several of Richard Fleischer
's films had semidocumentary qualities; see external links below.
Some examples of movies that at least have some elements of a semidocumentary in their style:
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
. Stylistically, it has certain similarities to Italian Neorealism
Italian neorealism
Italian neorealism is a style of film characterized by stories set amongst the poor and working class, filmed on location, frequently using nonprofessional actors...
, such as the use of location shooting and employing non-actors in secondary roles.
One of the first films of this kind was The House on 92nd Street
The House on 92nd Street
The House on 92nd Street is a 1945 black-and-white spy film directed by Henry Hathaway. The film, shot mainly in New York City, was released shortly after the end of World War II. The House on 92nd Street was made with the full cooperation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation , and its head, J....
(1945): Time used the term "semidocumentary" to describe this film in 1952 http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,816557,00.html. The producer of the film had previously worked on newsreels which inspired the film-making style.
In the late 1940s, semidocumentary films were often associated with film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
thrillers, sharing a commitment to on-location shooting, gritty realism, and understated performances. Several of Richard Fleischer
Richard Fleischer
-Early life:Fleischer was born in Brooklyn, the son of Essie and animator/producer Max Fleischer. He started in motion pictures as director of animated shorts produced by his father including entries in the Betty Boop, Popeye and Superman series.His live-action film career began in 1942 at the RKO...
's films had semidocumentary qualities; see external links below.
Some examples of movies that at least have some elements of a semidocumentary in their style:
- Armored Car RobberyArmored Car RobberyArmored Car Robbery is a 1950 American film noir shot in a semi-documentary style, directed by Richard Fleischer, and starring Charles McGraw. The movie was filmed on location in Los Angeles, California....
(1950) - BoomerangBoomerang (1947 film)Boomerang! is a 1947 film based on the true story of a vagrant who was accused of murder, only to be found innocent through the efforts of the prosecutor...
(1947) - BodyguardBodyguard (1948 film)Bodyguard is an American semi-documentary crime film noir directed by Richard Fleischer and written by Fred Niblo Jr.and Harry Essex, based on a story written by George W. George and Robert Altman, who would on to direct MASH and other notable films...
(1948) - Call Northside 777Call Northside 777Call Northside 777 is a documentary-style film noir directed by Henry Hathaway. It is based on the true story of a Chicago reporter who proved that a man, who had been in prison for murder, was wrongly convicted 11 years before....
(1948) - DragnetDragnet (series)Dragnet is a radio and television crime drama about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners...
(1951) - He Walked by NightHe Walked by NightHe Walked by Night is a black-and-white police procedural film noir, crediting Alfred L. Werker as director. The film, shot in semidocumentary tone, was loosely based on newspaper accounts of the real-life actions of Erwin "Machine-Gun" Walker, a former Glendale police department employee and...
(1948) - Highway 301Highway 301 (film)Highway 301 was a 1950 crime drama/film noir directed and written by Andrew L. Stone.- Plot :A gang of robbers are terrorizing and robbing banks and payrolls in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. The gang's leader, George, seems to take particular delight in "bumping off" women who cross him...
(1950) - The Hitch-HikerThe Hitch-Hiker (1953 film)The Hitch-Hiker is a film noir directed by Ida Lupino about two fishing buddies who pick up a mysterious hitchhiker during a trip to Mexico....
(1953) - The House on 92nd StreetThe House on 92nd StreetThe House on 92nd Street is a 1945 black-and-white spy film directed by Henry Hathaway. The film, shot mainly in New York City, was released shortly after the end of World War II. The House on 92nd Street was made with the full cooperation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation , and its head, J....
(1945) - Kiss of Death (1947)
- Mystery StreetMystery StreetMystery Street is a black-and-white film noir directed by John Sturges with cinematography by famed lensman John Alton. The film stars Ricardo Montalban, Bruce Bennett, and Elsa Lanchester....
(1950) - The Naked CityThe Naked CityThe Naked City is a 1948 black-and-white film noir directed by Jules Dassin. The movie, shot partially in documentary style, was filmed on location on the streets of New York City, featuring landmarks such as the Williamsburg Bridge the Whitehall Building and an apartment building on West 83rd...
(1948) - On Dangerous GroundOn Dangerous GroundOn Dangerous Ground is a film noir directed by Nicholas Ray and produced by John Houseman. The screenplay was written by A. I. Bezzerides based on the novel Mad with Much Heart, by Gerald Butler...
(1952) - Panic in the Streets (1950)
- The Racket (1951)
- Side Street (1950)
- The Street with No NameThe Street with No NameThe Street with No Name is a black-and-white film noir. The movie, a follow up to The House on 92nd Street , tells the story of an undercover FBI agent, Gene Cordell , who infiltrates a deadly crime gang. Cordell's superior, FBI Inspector George A. Briggs also appears in The House on 92nd Street...
(1948) - The St. Valentine's Day MassacreThe St. Valentine's Day Massacre (film)The St. Valentine's Day Massacre is a 1967 gangster film based on the 1929 Chicago mass murder of seven members of the Northside gang, directed against George "Bugs" Moran by Al Capone...
(1967) - T-MenT-MenT-Men is a semidocumentary style 1947 film noir shot in black-and-white. The film was directed by Anthony Mann with cinematography by noted noir cameraman John Alton....
(1947)