Having recently read Siegfried Kracuer’s classic study of German film, one of his incidental observations appealed to my subjective serendipidity: “On the whole, the Germans indulged less than the Americans in pure dialogue films. Both Pabst and Lang developed ingenious devices to perpetuate the leading role of the visuals. This emphasis on pictorial values persisted throughout the Nazi era, as can best be exemplified by the striking contrast between German and American war newsreels: while the Nazis inserted long pictorial sequences without any verbal comment, the Americans degraded the shots exhibited to scattered illustrations of some commentator’s exuberant eloquence.” (Siegfried Kracauer, From Caligari to Hitler. Princeton University Press, 1947.)
Kracauer, comparing German propaganda during World War ll with typical American newsreels of the time, demonstrates just how far back extends the American clumsiness in documentary.
For those interested in reading more about the exhausting, paralyzing voice-over in the typical American documentary film, go to Rick’s Flicks blogs for 10/31/11; 12/21/11; 3/16/12 and 5/22/20.
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COMING SOON to the screen nearest you
A further installment of AT-LONG-LAST: Rick’s Flicks reviews of films finally seen:
The Student of Prague (1913)
The Student of Prague (1926)
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NEXT Friday post May 14
Until then,
Enjoy a movie,
Rick
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