Category: Documentary

1194. THE PLOW THAT BROKE THE PLAINS and NIGHT MAIL (1934-USA; 1936-England). 1. THE PLOW THAT BROKE THE PLAINS (1934-USA). Written and directed by PARE LORENTZ. Music composed by VIRGIL THOMSON. The Plow That Broke the Plains is one of the cornerstone documentaries in American film history. It was made at the height of the […]

113. DAY OF FREEDOM – OUR FIGHTING FORCES (Tag Der Freiheit) (1935-Germany). Directed by LENI RIEFENSTAHL. Until recently, this important Riefenstahl propaganda film was considered lost. A powerful demonstration of Nazi Germany’s military might, it was ordered made by the Fuehrer himself, to make up for the virtual absence of the Army in “Triumph of […]

114. THE STILWELL ROAD (1945-USA). Narrated by RONALD REAGAN. Stirring World War II documentary, using exciting combat footage to tell of the “almost forgotten” China-Burrma-lndia FrontÑ”a story of humiliating defeat, flaming courage, and hard-won victory.” Shortly after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese destroyed much of the Burma Road, a vital “land bridge” between India and China, […]

1073.WHY WE FIGHT #4- THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN (1943-USA). Produced by Frank CAPRA. Directed by FRANK CAPRA and Anatole Litvak. Music by DIMITRI TIOMKIM. Narrated by WALTER HUSTON and others. The fourth film in Frank Capra’s acclaimed series produced for the War Department, this superb documentary vividly portrays Britain’s courageous stand against the Nazis throughout […]

1047. SEPTEMBER 1939 (1961-Canada). Narrated by FRANK WILLIS. September 1,1939: “When the Nazi forces let loose on Poland and its unprotected cities, the most concentrated and ferocious assault in history. This was a new concept for waging war and gave a new word to the language Ñ the Blitzkrieg – the Lightning War!” This comprehensive, […]

100. BORNEO (1937-USA). Produced by MARTIN JOHNSON. With MARTIN and OSA JOHNSON. Narrated by LOWELL THOMAS. Comic Commentary by LEW LEHR. The final film by explorer and popular naturalist Martin Johnson, who, with his wife Osa, made some extraordinary documentaries between 1912 and 1937, recording their journeys to Africa, Asia and the South SeasÑ”through the […]

1014. JAZZ BALL (1956-USA). A compilation of scenes from the greatest jazz films of all time. Anyone who was anyone…blowing hot! 56 minutes total. Music