Program 1 Sparks: The American Precursors
• Japanese Surrender Preliminaries in China, Chihkiang, Arrival of Sir William Slim, Rangoon, and Generals Inspect British 36th Div Headquarters are silent films.
Japanese Surrender Preliminaries in China, Chihkiang
Arrival of Sir William Slim, Rangoon
Generals Inspect British 36th Div Headquarters
- 1945 / B&W / Digital File (Original: 35mm) / 4 min
Camera: Richard Leacock, et al.
Source: US National Archives and Records Administration: 111-adc-2834, 111-adc- 4380, 111-adc-5142
Richard Leacock served as a combat cameraman in World War II, spending most of his time following troops in the Burma Campaign. His handheld camerawork helped him recognize the severe limitations of the tripod.
The Young Fighter (The Young Fighter: A Reality Film)
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1953 / B&W / 16mm / 30 min
Director: Leo Hurwitz
Photography: Fons Iannelli
Source: George Eastman Museum
A boxer navigates a big match with family responsibilities. Shortly after the completion of Jazz Dance, Hurwitz showed Young Fighter to Richard Leacock, who later screened it for Drew Associates.
Jazz Dance
- 1954 / B&W / 16mm (Original: 35mm) / 22 min
Director, Screenplay: Roger Tilton
Photography: Richard Leacock, Robert Campbell
Music: Jimmy McPartland, Pee Wee Russell, Willie “The Lion” Smith
Source: Austrian Film Museum
Leacock drew on his WWII combat experience and the small 35mm Eyemo he deployed in the Pacific to shoot a lively night of dancing. It whet his appetite for a new approach to cinematography.
On the Bowery
- 1956 / B&W / Digital File (Original: 35mm) / 65 min
Director: Lionel Rogosin
Screenplay, Producers: Richard Bagley, Lionel Rogosin, Mark Sufrin
Photography: Richard Bagley
Editor: Carl Lerner
Music: Charles Mills
Cast: Ray Salyer, Gorman Hendriks, Frank Matthews, George L. Bolton
Source: Milestone Films, Kino Lorber
Despite using the massive equipment of the 1950s, Rogosin’s photography of the poorest neighborhoods in New York City is remarkably close to Direct Cinema. The approach inspired Robert Drew and others.