This Bloody Blundering Business
Encyclopedia
This Bloody Blundering Business is a half-hour documentary film released in 1971. It examines the American occupation of the Philippines
, following the Spanish–American War. The film is characterized by its ragtime
music combined with dramatically understated revelations of the attitudes of the Americans towards the native Filipinos
.
's Benevolent assimilation
was, he said, a way to educate and civilize their "little brown brother
s", the Filipinos, and leave the country once it is ready to handle its own government.
The movie shows that the arrival of the Americans was intended to be peaceful, however, under many circumstances, it became savage and barbaric.
and producer whose films include, among many others, South Africa: the White Laager, a history of Afrikaner nationalism, Remember Mandela, which was shown on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta in 1988, and Anatomy of Violence, which was made in conjunction with Stokely Carmichael
and Allen Ginsberg
. (Peter Davis is to be distinguished from the American documentary film director of the same name
, who is known for his direction of the 1974 documentary Hearts and Minds
).
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, following the Spanish–American War. The film is characterized by its ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
music combined with dramatically understated revelations of the attitudes of the Americans towards the native Filipinos
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
.
Plot
According to the film, the Americans came to the Philippines for one reason: to civilize the people. William McKinleyWilliam McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
's Benevolent assimilation
Benevolent assimilation
The term Benevolent Assimilation refers to a proclamation about the Philippines issued on December 21, 1898 by U.S. President William McKinley during the Philippine-American War, which followed the defeat of Spain during the Spanish-American War. The proclamation reads in part:The proclamation was...
was, he said, a way to educate and civilize their "little brown brother
Little Brown Brother
Little Brown Brother was a term used by Americans to refer to native Filipinos during the period of U.S. colonial rule over the Philippines, following the Treaty of Paris between Spain and the United States, and the Philippine-American War...
s", the Filipinos, and leave the country once it is ready to handle its own government.
The movie shows that the arrival of the Americans was intended to be peaceful, however, under many circumstances, it became savage and barbaric.
Director
Peter Davis, born in 1933, is a British-Canadian film directorFilm director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and producer whose films include, among many others, South Africa: the White Laager, a history of Afrikaner nationalism, Remember Mandela, which was shown on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta in 1988, and Anatomy of Violence, which was made in conjunction with Stokely Carmichael
Stokely Carmichael
Kwame Ture , also known as Stokely Carmichael, was a Trinidadian-American black activist active in the 1960s American Civil Rights Movement. He rose to prominence first as a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and later as the "Honorary Prime Minister" of the Black Panther Party...
and Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
. (Peter Davis is to be distinguished from the American documentary film director of the same name
Peter Davis (director)
Peter Frank Davis, born January 2, 1937, is an American filmmaker, author and journalist.-Biography:Davis was born in Santa Monica, and grew up in Upland and Pacific Palisades, CA. His parents were the screenwriters Frank Davis and Tess Slesinger, and after his mother's death in 1945, Isabelle Fair...
, who is known for his direction of the 1974 documentary Hearts and Minds
Hearts and Minds (film)
Hearts and Minds is a 1974 American documentary film about the Vietnam War directed by Peter Davis. The film's title is based on a quote from President Lyndon B. Johnson: "the ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live out there"...
).