Sentinels of Silence

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Sentinels of Silence
Directed by Robert Amram
Produced by Manuel Arango
Written by Robert Amram
Starring Ricardo Montalbán
Orson Welles
Cinematography Jim Freeman
Gustavo Olguin
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release dates
  • 1971 (1971)
Running time 18 minutes
Country Mexico
Language Spanish

Sentinels of Silence (Spanish: Centinelas del silencio) is a 1971 short documentary film on ancient Mexican civilizations. The film was directed and written by Mexican filmmaker Robert Amram, and is notable for being the first and only short film to win two Academy Awards.

Plot

Sentinels of Silence provides an 18-minute helicopter-based aerial visit across the archeological ruins in Mexico including Teotihuacan, Monte Alban, Mitla, Tulum, Palenque, Chichen Itza and Uxmal. The film’s narration details pre-Columbian Mayan culture, focusing on its achievements in mathematics and astronomy, and then questions how and why the Mayan society seemed to disappear, leaving behind its structures as the eponymous silent sentinels.[1]

Production

Sentinels of Silence was released in two versions, with Orson Welles providing the English-language narration and Ricardo Montalban providing the Spanish-language narration.[2] Both versions included a symphonic score by Mariano Moreno. Paramount Pictures acquired this production for U.S. theatrical release.

Academy Awards

Sentinels of Silence won two Academy Awards in 1972; one for Best Short Subject and one for Best Documentary Short Subject. [3] This was the only time that a short film won Oscars in two categories. Afterwards, the Academy changed its rules to prevent documentaries from competing against narrative films in the Best Short Subject category.[4]

Home video and non-theatrical release

Sentinels of Silence was released on VHS video by ALTI Publishing in 1990 under the new title "Sentinels of Silence: The Ruins of Ancient Mexico." [5] To date, the film has not been made available on DVD. Although the film is no longer in theatrical circulation, the government of Mexico continues to present the film in non-theatrical screenings at its embassies and consulates around the world.[6]

There is, however, a DVD edition distributed by Mexico Antiguo, for sale only in Mexico.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Learning Resources Division of Valley College
  2. ↑ Allmovie
  3. ↑ "New York Times: Sentinels of Silence". NY Times. Retrieved 2008-05-24. 
  4. ↑ Academy Award rules
  5. ↑ Amazon.com page
  6. ↑ Cultural events schedule, Mexican Embassy in Singapore

External links

  • Complete list
  • (1941–1960)
  • (1961–1980)
  • (1981–2000)
  • (2001–2020)
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