Creative Arts Television Archive is a licensing agency representing several
hundred completed television documentaries not for sale elsewhere. Some of
these titles concern cinema and are now available in video formats for
research or classroom use. We offer VHS (home video) copies of documentary
programs about cinema, film directors, scoring for film, animation,
experimenters, studies of techniques, profiles and interviews, produced in
the period 1950-1980. Contact [log in to unmask] for details on ordering and
additional titles.
All half-hour except as noted.
Leni Riefenstahl (1973, color) One hour. Overview of her life and work,
treating Riefenstahl as a filmmaker. Includes interview with LR in English.
Clips of "Blaue Licht", "Triumph des Willens", "Olympia", "Tiefland", and a
few of the films in which she performed as an actress. A great deal of
biographical material, many photos from her personal archive.
The Maysles Brothers (1969, color) One hour. Albert and David Maysles,
pioneers in "direct cinema", in conversation with Jack Kroll (then senior
editor of Newsweek) about techniques and motivations. Clips from "Salesman".
Buster Keaton (1970, color) Film critic Andrew Sarris and film archivist
Raymond Rohauer -- who found and rescued many old Keaton films --discuss
career of Keaton. Clips from "The General", "Cops", "Sherlock Jr.",
"College", "Steamboat Bill Jr.", "Frozen North", "The Boat."
Francois Truffaut (1977, color) Conversation between FT (speaking in
French) and Richard Roud (then director of NY Film Festival) about his life,
work and the auteur theory; with clips from "400 Blows", "Jules and Jim",
"Bed and Board", "The Man Who Loved Women" and many others.
D. W. Griffith (1975, color) One hour. Overview of Griffith's life and
work by film historian Ron Mottram, with guests silent film stars Lillian
Gish and Blanche Sweet. Clips from "Crossroads of Life", "Isn't Life
Wonderful", "The Country Doctor","Feud in the Kentucky Hills," "A Corner in
Wheat", "The Informer", "The Painted Lady", "Way Down East," "An Unseen
Enemy," "Intolerance", "Birth of a Nation," "Judith and Holofernes," "True
Heart Susie."
Alfred Hitchcock (1972, color) One hour. The director speaks with news
commentator Pia Lindstrom (daughter of AH star Ingrid Bergman) and with film
historian William Everson about his life and work. Clips from many films,
including "Dial M for Murder", "The 39 Steps," "Notorious", "Frenzy", "The
Lodger", "The Man Who Knew Too Much", "The Birds." A special section on early
influences, and on AH's humorous appearances in his own movies.
Jean Gabin (1978, color) One hour. The great French actor remembered by
some of the writers, directors and co-stars who worked with him through 50
years and 100 films, including Rene Clement, Jean Dellanoy, Denys de la
Patelliere, Michel Audiard, Granier Deferre, Jean Desailly, Francois Arnoul,
Lino Ventura, Danielle Darrieux, Madeleine Renaud. Clips from "Pepe le
Moko", "Grande Illusion", "La Bete Humaine", "Le Chat", many others. Narrated
by Nadia Gray, who played opposite Gabin in the 50's.
Orson Welles (1967, b/w) One hour. Chronicle of the life and work of OW
through film clips and photographs.
Josef von Sternberg (1965, b/w) The director talks with film critic
Stanley Kaufmann. Clips from "The Blue Angel".
Milos Forman (1966, b/w) Discussion between a very young MF (long before
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Ragtime") and cinema critic Amos
Vogel. Clips from Forman's wonderful early Czech film "Loves of a Blonde."
Joseph Losey (1963, b/w) JL and A. Mekas talk with NY Film Festival
organizer Richard Roud and critic Amos Vogel on occasion of the very first NY
Film Festival. Discussion of film-making and festivals. Clips from Losey's
"The Servant" and Mekas' "Hallelujah the Hills."
Sidney Lumet (1962, b/w) One hour. SL talks with editor-professor John
Gassner about plays becoming films. Clips from "A View from the Bridge" and
"Long Days Journey Into Night", others.
Agnes Varda (1969, b/w) AV and Susan Sontag discuss women in films with
editor Jack Kroll.
Film Reality and Film Fantasy (1975, color) Special effects, then and now
(1975). With Linwood Dunn explaining "King Kong", "Androcles and the Lion,",
"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World", "Citizen Kane," and others -- with
illustrations of optical printing. And with Bob Abel, pioneer in
computer-driven film effects.
Cinema of Senegal (1978, color) Conversation with Senegalese directors
Paulin Soumanou Vieyra and Ousmane Sembene with Larry Kardish (Museum of
Modern Art film dept.) Clips of several films by the participants and by
Samb-Makharam and Traore.
Scoring Films, 2. (1976, color) Profile of Bernard Hermann (1911-1975),
composer whose scores set a new standard in American cinema. Illustrations
from "Citizen Kane", "Jane Eyre", "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir", "Psycho", "North
by Northwest", "Taxi Driver, others. Commentary by music professor David
Raksin.
Filming "Godspell" (1973, color) Taking hit off-Broadway musical to the
screen. On-location scenes, rehearsals, etc., and reflections by director
David Greene, composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, writer John-Michael
Tebelak.
Warner Brothers Cartoon Studio 1934-1964 (1975, color) "The Boys From
Termite Terrace" in 2 half-hour parts, has been widely exhibited as the best
overview of the golden age of Hollywood cartoons. Hosted by animation expert
John Canemaker. Interviews and reminiscence with Friz Freleng, Mel Blanc,
Chuck Jones, Bob Clampett and clips from their works including Bugs Bunny,
Road Runner, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, etc. Demonstrations of painting cels,
drawing, voice recording.
Short personal films by women (1974, color) work by Judith Wardwell, Freude,
Karen Johnson, Chick Strand, Betty Chen, Sharon Hennessey, Gunvor Nelson.
Comment by Freude (Bartlett) (filmmaker, distributor).
Otto Messmer (1977, color) creator of "Felix the Cat" cartoon series; OM
discusses his work. Clips "Felix" etc.
Stan VanDerBeek, 1. (1972, color) VDB at the pioneering computer at MIT
(Advanced Visual Studies dept.) talks about computers interaction with
creativity and demonstrates techniques. Clips from "Symmetricks" and others.
With computer expert Wade Shaw.
Stan VanDerBeek, 2. (1968) VDB at home, discusses work, tours his
Moviedrome. Includes clips from "Will", "See Saw Seams", "Poemfield #1".
Hans Richter (1973, color) profile of his work and life: experimental film
artist, graphic artist, co-founder of Dada aesthetic, Bauhaus associate,
participant in Surrealist movements. HR on camera explains his role as a
dissenter in the Europe between the wars. Clips from films "Ghosts Before
Breakfast", "Rhythm 21", "8 X 8", others.
John Whitney, Sr. (1975, color) Pioneer computer graphics/film artist
explains techniques, shows his equipment. With clips from"Matrix 3",
"Catalog", "Permutations", "Lapis"
George Dunning (1973, color) Master animator explains work and techniques.
Tours his studio, shows techniques, his own animation experiments, how cels
are made. Excerpts from works in progress and clips from the famous Beatles
film "Yellow Submarine", "The Flying Man", "Damon the Mower."
Oskar Fischinger (1977, color) Profile of early animation artist with clips
from "Liebespiel", "Komposition in Blau", "Spiritual Constructions",
marching cigarettes commercial, others. With his widow Elfriede, writer/film
commentator William Moritz, animator John Canemaker.
Alexander Alexeieff (1966, b/w) Creator of the strangely effective yet
oddly old-fashioned experimental technique for making films by shining strong
light across the peaks and valleys of hundreds of pins arranged in a "pin
board", and filming the their shadows. AA discusses his invention and its
application. (With wife and co-worker Claire Parker). Clips from their films.
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