HISTORY OF

DOCUMENTARIES
Pre-1900s
When documentaries were invented
they were first identified as a newsreels,
the very first films before the 1900s were
essentially films called actuality films.
One of the first films were made by the
Lumiere brothers which were
documentaries of a train station and a
factory, which were single shot
moments.
1920s
Nanook of the North made in 1922 was the
first ever official documentary film, by Robert
Flaherty, an insight into the lives of Canadian
Eskimos living in the Arctic, however some of the
documentaries footage of unused traditions
were staged. Flaherty, is often known as the
"Father of the Documentary Film" who also
made the landmark film Moana (1926) about
Pacific islanders, which was not as successful.
Then his first sound documentary was Man of
Aran (1934), about the ruff Aran
islanders/fishermen in west of Ireland's Galway
Bay
After a review was made of the Moana Nanook of the North-1922
documentary the term 'documentary' was first
established by Scottish-born filmmaker John
Grierson to describe a non-fiction film.
1920s
Merian C. Cooperone of the creators of King
Kong (1933), directed the landmark
documentary Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life
(1925), the first documentary epic, which
followed the travels of the Bakhtyari tribe in
Persia during their migration travels to search
for fresh lands for their livestock to feed on.
The filmmakers' next film was a travel
documentary filmed in the Siamese (Thailand)
jungle, Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness
(1927), about a native tribal family.
European documentary film makers made a
series of non-fictional city symphonies, Berlin-
Symphony of a big city (1927) by Alberto
Covficanti and Walter Ruttman about the
German city in the 1920s.
Grass: A nations Battle for Life-1925
1930s and 40s
During world war two the Nazi government in
Germany and countries like Great Britain and
America used documentaries as a device to
inform and persuade the public.
One of the most famous propaganda
documentaries is Triumph of the will influenced
Adolf Hitler and made by Leni Riefanstahl.
Made by the British was Fires were started and
A diary for Timothy by Humphrey Jennings.
Made by the USA was a series of 7 propaganda
films, Why we fight by Frank Capra.
A film was made on the subject of transporting
mail on trains from London to Edinburgh called
Night Mail, however to some critics thought his
film was more focused on the shooting and
editing rather than the social and political issues
in his films, like a modernist approach.
Triumph of the Will-1935
1960s
Cinma Vrit and Direct Cinema emerged in
1950s 1970s - with the advancement of new
technology and lighter and handheld camera
equipment. 1960- Primary. Film makers also
made effort to capture spontaneous and
authentic events, to bring the audience and
film maker closer to the subject for realism.
Furthermore direct involvement with the
audience was kept limited and sets, props
were less used.
In the 60s there was the rise of political, social
and sexual revolution, were women, people of
color, gays and lesbians were able to present
their views of themselves to a larger audience.
1981-Riots and Rumors of Riots Primary-1960
In the 1960s Television became an important
source for documentary filmmaking, more
journalistic and educational programs were
made like, Ken Burnss Civil Warseries, 1990.
Riots and Rumour of Riots-1981
What have I How will I use this for my
learnt? documentary?
I have learnt how documentaries
have developed over the last 100
I will use this research for my documentary to help me figure out the
years and technological purpose of my documentary and how I want it to be portrayed to our
advancements have improved in audience. From this information I can use some of the filming and
the making of documentaries. I've editing techniques that are still used today.
also learnt how the purposes of
documentaries have altered and
are not only there to inform the
audience but also entertain and
have a creative element to them. I
have come to the knowledge that
there were many political
Why do I need to know the
documentaries during world war 2 to
persuade people their views. history?
I need to know the history of documentaries so I can understand why
people first started making documentaries, so I can also have a clear
purpose of my documentary.