Native Land

Native Land
Directed by Leo Hurwitz
Paul Strand
Produced by Leo Hurwitz
Written by Leo Hurwitz
Ben Maddow
Starring Paul Robeson (Narrator/Vocalist)
Fred Johnson
Music by Marc Blitzstein
Cinematography Paul Strand
Editing by Lionel Berman
Leo Hurwitz
Bob Stebbins
Release date(s) 11 May 1942
Running time 79 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Native Land is a 1942 documentary film [1] directed by Leo Hurwitz and Paul Strand.

A combination of a documentary format and staged reenactments, the film depicted the struggle of trade unions against union-busting corporations, their spies and contractors. It was based on the 1938 report of the La Follette Committee's investigation of the repression of labor organizing.

Famous African-American singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson participated as an off-screen narrator and vocalist.

Contents

Cast

Restoration / re-release

A restored version of the film was released in 2011. The film was restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive, funded by the Packard Humanities Institute.[2]

The new print was made “from the original 35mm nitrate picture negative, a 35mm safety duplicate negative, and a 35mm safety up-and-down track negative.”[2]

The restoration premiered at the UCLA Festival of Preservation on March 26, 2011[2] and was screened at other North American cities in 2011 including Vancouver.[3]

References

  1. ^ Grant, Barry Keith and Jim Hillier. BFI Screen Guides: 100 Documentary Films, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009. pp. 147–148.
  2. ^ a b c Jan-Christopher Horak. "UCLA Film & Television Archive: Native Land (1942)". http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2011-03-26/native-land-1942. Retrieved 2011-11-07. 
  3. ^ "Recent Restorations: Treasures From The UCLA Festival Of Preservation » Native Land". http://www.cinematheque.bc.ca/recent-restorations-treasures-from-the-ucla-festival-of-preservation/native-land. Retrieved 2011-11-07. 

External links