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|'''''Svetlo proniká tmou (Light Penetrates the Darkness)'''''||[[Otakar Vávra]], Frantisek Pilát|| ||{{Flagicon|Czechoslovakia}}||Photographic abstract film <ref>[imdb entry [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0176204/combined The Light Penetrates the Dark (1931)]</ref>
|'''''Svetlo proniká tmou (Light Penetrates the Darkness)'''''||[[Otakar Vávra]], Frantisek Pilát|| ||{{Flagicon|Czechoslovakia}}||Photographic abstract film <ref>[imdb entry [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0176204/combined The Light Penetrates the Dark (1931)]</ref>
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|'''''[[End of the World (1931 film)]]'''''||[[Abel Gance]]||[[Abel Gance]], [[Victor Francen]]||{{Flagicon|France}}||Visually radical adaptation of [[Camille Flammarion]] novel, taken away from Gance, and re-edited. <ref>DVD Savant review of "Le fin du monde" [imdb entry [http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2376fin.html]</ref>
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|'''''Studie(s) Nr. 7-9||[[Oskar Fischinger]]|| ||{{Flagicon|Weimar Republic}}||Abstract animation <ref name="oskarfischinger1"/>
|'''''Studie(s) Nr. 7-9||[[Oskar Fischinger]]|| ||{{Flagicon|Weimar Republic}}||Abstract animation <ref name="oskarfischinger1"/>

Revision as of 06:42, 18 December 2013

A list of avant-garde and experimental films made in the 1930s. Unless where noted, all films had sound and were in black and white. Some films, such as Steiner's Surf and Seaweed, had dedicated music scores that are now lost; in the case of some now-lost films it is not known whether they were sound or silent. In terms of defining "avant-garde" or "experimental" in this period, there are several criteria at work here. First and foremost are films that directly or indirectly reflect the major avant-garde art movements of this era. Next in line are films that reflect radical types of film-making technique; unusual camerawork, editing and montage, non-standardized subjects and advanced kinds of amateur and non-commercial films. In this period there was considerable co-mingling between the avant-garde and the emerging form of the documentary film; some titles may contain elements of both. This list excludes some subjects that could loosely qualify as "art films," but do not reflect the modernist esthetic that could be considered within the realm of the avant-garde.

Title Director Cast Country Sub-Genre/Notes
1930
Bezucelná procházka (Aimless Walk) Alexandr Hackenschmied Czechoslovakia City film [1]
Takový je zivot (Such is Life) Karl Junghans Vera Baranovskaya, Theodor Pistek Czechoslovakia Slovak avant-garde social realist feature; silent [2][3]
L'Âge d'Or Luis Buñuel Gaston Modot, Lya Lys, Max Ernst France Notorious surrealist feature, produced by Charles De Noailles [4]
Autour de la fin du monde Eugène Deslaw Abel Gance France Extraordinary, semi-experimental "making of" documentary shot on set of Abel Gance's "La fin du monde;" silent [5]
Romance Sentimentale Grigory Alexandrov, Sergei Eisenstein Mara Griy France "Étude cinematographique" [6]
Mennschen am Sonntag (People on Sunday) Curt Siodmak, Robert Siodmak, Edgar G. Ulmer, Fred Zinnemann, Rochus Gliese Erwin Splettstößer, Brigitte Borchert Weimar Republic City film, partly written by Billy Wilder; silent[7]
Wochenende (Weekend) Walter Ruttmann Weimar Republic Audio-only film collage; no image [8]
Studie(s) Nr. 2-4 Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animations, Nr. 4 Lost [9]
R.5, Ein Spiel in Linien (Studie Nr. 5) Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation [9]
Studie Nr. 6 Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation [9]
Borderline (1930 film) Kenneth MacPherson Paul Robeson, Hilda Doolittle United Kingdom Pool film; silent [10]
Light Rhythms Francis Brugière, Oswell Blakeston United Kingdom Light-oriented, non-animated abstract film[11]
Apteka (Pharmacy) Stephan Themerson, Franciszka Themerson Poland Rayographic animation, lost [12]
It's a Bird Harold Mueller Charles Bowers, Lowell Thomas United States Strange, semi-animated short where an egg transforms into an automobile [13]
Crying for the Carolines Leon Schlesinger, Neil McGuire Milton Charles United States A "Spooney Melodie;" Semi-abstract music short [14][15]
Tomatoes Another Day James Sibley Watson, Jr. United States Absurdist comedy written by Alec Wilder[16]
Mechanical Principles Ralph Steiner United States Abstract film based on machinery; sometimes dated to 1933 [17]
The Story of a Nobody Jo Gerson, Louis Hershman United States Experiment in subjective camerawork, Lost film [18]
A City Symphony Herman G. Weinberg United States City film, never shown, disassembled and partly used in Autumn Fire [19]
The Trap M.G. MacPherson, Jean Michelson United States Artkino production, Lost film [19]
The Power of Suggestion M.G. MacPherson, Jean Michelson United States Artkino production, Lost film [19]
1931
Limite Mário Peixoto Olga Breno, Raul Schnoor Brazil Advertised as 'pure cinema;' first Brazilian avant-garde film [20]
Na Prazském hrade (The Prague Castle) Alexandr Hackenschmied Czechoslovakia Artful semi-documentary [21]
Svetlo proniká tmou (Light Penetrates the Darkness) Otakar Vávra, Frantisek Pilát Czechoslovakia Photographic abstract film [22]
End of the World (1931 film) Abel Gance Abel Gance, Victor Francen France Visually radical adaptation of Camille Flammarion novel, taken away from Gance, and re-edited. [23]
Studie(s) Nr. 7-9 Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation [9]
Autumn Fire Herman G. Weinberg Erna Bergman, Willy Hildebrand United States Cinematic poem; mixed nature and city film [19]
A Bronx Morning Jay Leyda United States City film; silent [24]
City of Contrasts Irving Browning United States City film [25][19]
Dance Film Ralph Steiner United States Dance film [19]
A Day in Santa Fe Lynn Riggs, James Hughes United States City film[11][26]
Hearts of the West Theodore Huff United States Genre parody [19]
Imperial Valley Seymour Stern United States Experimental documentary, sometimes dated to 1932 or 1933; Stern taken off production which was finished by others, Lost film [27][28]
Panther Woman of the Needle Trades, or The Lovely Life of Little Lisa Ralph Steiner Elizabeth Hawes, Morris Carnovsky United States Satire, print extant at MOMA [19]
Portrait of a Young Man in Three Movements Henwar Rodakiewicz United States Feature length experimental film, begun in 1925 [29][30]
Surf and Seaweed Ralph Steiner United States Photographic abstract film, sometimes dated to 1930.[31]
Enthusiasm Dziga Vertov Soviet Union Documentary film with montage of both visuals and sound
1932
Burleska Jan Kucera Czechoslovakia Experimental short [32]
Pred maturitou (Before Matriculation) Sviatopluk Immermann, Vladislav Vancura Jindrich Plachta, Frantisek Smolík Czechoslovakia Mildly experimental feature film [32][33]
Blood of a Poet Jean Cocteau Lee Miller, Pauline Carton, Odette Talazacuez France Surrealist feature, produced by Charles de Noailles; often misdated to 1930-31[34]
Koloraturen (Coloratura) Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation [9]
Ornament Sound Experiment, a.k.a. Experiments in Hand-Drawn Sound Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Synthetic sound experiment [9]
Studie(s) Nr. 10-11 Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation [9]
Studie Nr. 12 Oskar Fischinger, Hans Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation [9]
Qué vivá México! Sergei Eisenstein, Grigori Alexandrov Félix Balderas, Martín Hernández Mexico Begun in 1931, never completed by Eisenstein; edited into numerous other films [35]
Europa Stephan Themerson, Franciszka Themerson Poland Abstract animation, Lost [12]
La cartomancienne (The Fortune Teller) Jerome Hill United States Precursor to the mythopoeic, poetic style of experimental film that emerged in the 1940s, tinting and hand-coloring added in the 1960s [36][37]
Destiny Josef Berne United States Dated "ca. 1932"[19]
Granite, a.k.a. The Quarry Ralph Steiner United States [19]
Harbor Scenes Ralph Steiner United States [19]
Land of the Sun Seymour Stern United States Experimental documentary [38][27]
Little Geezer Theodore Huff United States Genre parody [19][39]
Poem 8 Emlen Etting Mary Binney Montgomery, Caresse Crosby United States Dance film, shot in 8mm, silent [40]
1933
Poslovi konzula Dorgena (Consul Dorgen's Business) Oktavijan Miletić Šime Marov, Ivan Alpi-Rauch Croatia Experimental dramatic short; won a prize awarded by Louis Lumière [41][42]
Na slunecní strane (On the sunnyside) Vladislav Vancura Filip Balek-Brodský, Hana Beckova Czechoslovakia Didactic feature film [32][43]
Zem spieva (The Earth Sings) Karel Plicka, Alexandr Hackenschmied Czechoslovakia Experimentally edited ethnographic semi-documentary, with music score [44]
In the Icy Wastes of Dialectical Materialism Luis Buñuel, Charles de Noailles France Re-edited section of L'age d'or, rendered as comedy and shown in leftist theaters in Eastern Europe; lost. [45]
Une nuit sur le mont chauve Alexandre Alexieff, Claire Parker France First pinscreen animation, also dated to 1934, 1931 [46]
Kreise (Circles) Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation, exists in two versions, color [9]
Drobiazg Melodyjny (Moment Musical) Stephan Themerson, Franciszka Themerson Poland Rayographic animation, Lost [12]
7 till 5 Norman McLaren Scotland Amateur city film [47]
Dawn to Dawn Josef Berne, Seymour Stern Julie Haydon, Ole M. Ness, Frank Eklof United States a.k.a "Black Dawn," short, Naturalist melodrama[48][19][49]
Footnote to Fact Lewis Jacobs United States City film [50]
G-3 Ralph Steiner United States Also dated to 1932 [19][51]
Lot in Sodom James Sibley Watson, Jr., Melville Webber Friedrich Haak, Hildegarde Watson United States Experimental short based on Biblical story [52]
Mr. Motorboat's Last Stand John Flory, Theodore Huff Leonard Stirrup United States Satire [19][49]
Oil—A Symphony in Motion M.G. MacPherson, Jean Michelson United States Only extant Artkino production[19][37]
Oramunde Emlen Etting Caresse Crosby, Mary Binney Montgomery United States Dance film [37][53]
Pueblo Seymour Stern United States Experimental documentary; never finished, Lost film [27]
Synchromy Mary Ellen Bute, Lewis Jacobs, Joseph Schillinger United States Abstract animation, never completed [54]
Tilly Losch in the Dance of Her Hands Norman Bel Geddes Tilly Losch United States Dance film, dated 1930-33 [37]
Deserter Vsevolod Pudovkin Boris Livanov, Vasili Kovrigin Soviet Union Asynchronous use of sound and image [55]
Prostoy sluchay (A Simple Case) Vsevolod Pudovkin Aleksandr Baturin, Mariya Belousova Soviet Union Naturalist drama, begun in 1931; silent [56]
1934
Marijka nevernice (Faithless Maritza) Vladislav Vancura Hana Maria Pravda Czechoslovakia Highly experimental feature [32][57]
Žijeme v Praze (We Live in Prague) Otakar Vávra Czechoslovakia City film [58]
La Joie de vivre Anthony Gross, Hector Hoppin France Highly stylized, surreal animated film [59]
Liebesspiel Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract animation, first exhibited posthumously; silent [9]
Muratti Greift Ein (Muratti Gets in the Act) Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Dancing cigarette animation, color [9]
Quadrate (Squares) Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract animation, silent [9]
Rectangles Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract animation, silent, unfinished [9]
Ein Spiel in Farben (A Play in Colors) Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract animation, a.k.a. Studie No. 11a, color [9]
Studie Nr. 13 (Coriolan Fragment) Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract animation, unfinished [9]
Camera Makes Whoopee Norman McLaren Scotland Amateur film; montage experiments [60]
Café Universal Ralph Steiner United States Satire featuring members of The Group Theatre [19]
The Furies Slavko Vorkapich United States Surreal special effects insert for feature, "Crime without Passion" [61]
Hands Ralph Steiner, Willard Van Dyke United States Sponsored by the Works Project Administration; also dated 1936-7 and edited into later films [62][18]
The Hearts of Age William Vance, Orson Welles Virginia Nicolson, Orson Welles United States Amateur experimental film, made at the Todd School, Chicago [37]
Prisoner Roman Freulich George Sari, Jack Rockwell United States Expressionistic short, made in Hollywood, lost film [19]
Rhythm in Light Mary Ellen Bute, Ted Nemeth, Melville Webber United States Abstract animation [63]
Sweet Land of Liberty Leo Hurwitz United States Satirical documentary; Lost film [64]
1935
Listopad (November) Otakar Vávra, Alexandr Hackenschmied Czechoslovakia [65][32]
Poison Man Ray Man Ray, Meret Oppenheim France Double "portrait" film of Ray and Oppenheim [66]
Komposition in Blau (Composition in Blue) Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract animation in Gasparcolour [9]
Muratti Privat Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Dancing cigarette animation [9]
Pink Guards On Parade Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract advertisement, unfinished; completed in 2000 by William Moritz [9]
Zwarcie (Short Circuit) Stephan Themerson, Franciszka Themerson Poland Abstract animation, music by Witold Lutoslawski, Lost [12]
Color Cocktail Norman McLaren Scotland Abstract animation; lost film [67]
Polychrome Phantasy Norman McLaren Scotland Abstract animation, color [68]
Ghost Town: The Story of Fort Lee Theodore Huff, Mark Borgatte United States Semi-documentary [25]
Gypsy Night Josef Berne, Harold Hecht United States Bizarre musical short, set in a Gypsy camp, color [69]
Hollywood Vic Kandel, Robert Del Duca United States Satire, Lost film [64]
Kinetic Molpai Ted Shawn Ted Shawn and his Men Dancers United States Modern dance film [70]
Pie in the Sky Ralph Steiner, Elia Kazan, Molly Day Thatcher, Irving Lerner Elia Kazan, Russell Collins United States Satire [71]
Synchromy No. 2 Mary Ellen Bute, Ted Nemeth United States Abstract animation [72]
1936
Cernobílá rapsodie (Black and White Rhapsody) Martin Fric Czechoslovakia City film [32]
Redes Emilio Gómez Muriel, Fred Zinnemann Silvio Hernández, Rafael Hinojosa Mexico Cinematograhy by Paul Strand, music by Silvestre Revueltas; Eisenstein-influenced revolutionary film [73]
Hell Unlimited Helen Biggar, Norman McLaren Scotland Anti-war political short [74]
145 W 21 Rudy Burckhardt Paul Bowles, Aaron Copland United States [75]
Allegretto Oskar Fischinger United States Abstract animation, black & white, 2 versions [9]
Dada Mary Ellen Bute, Ted Nemeth United States Abstract animation [76]
Rose Hobart Joseph Cornell Rose Hobart United States Collage film [77]
1937
Even—As You and I LeRoy Robbins, Harry Hay Hy Hirsh United States
Parabola Mary Ellen Bute, Ted Nemeth, Bill Nemeth, Rutherford Boyd United States Abstract animation [78]
Escape Mary Ellen Bute, Ted Nemeth, Bill Nemeth United States Abstract animation [79]
Seeing the World No. 1: A Trip to New York CIty Rudy Burckhardt United States City film[11]
Silnice spívá (The Highway Sings) Alexandr Hackenschmied Czechoslovakia Experimental advertising film[32]
An Optical Poem Oskar Fischinger United States Abstract animation, distributed by MGM, color [9]
Przygoda Czlowieka Poczciwego (The Adventure of a Good Citizen) Stephan Themerson, Franciszka Themerson Poland Satire [12]
1938
The Children's Jury Joseph Cornell United States Collage film, Silent [11]
The Children's Trilogy: Cotillion, The Midnight Party, The Children's Party Joseph Cornell United States Collage film, put into a final form by Larry Jordan ca. 1967-70, Silent [11]
Jack's Dream Joseph Cornell United States Collage film, put into a final form by Larry Jordan ca. 1970 [11]
Carousel: Animal Opera Joseph Cornell United States Collage film [11]
Thimble Theater Joseph Cornell United States Collage film, title added posthumously; Silent [11]
Bookstalls Joseph Cornell United States Collage film, title added posthumously; Silent [11][80]
Porky in Wackyland Robert Clampett Mel Blanc, Billy Bletcher United States Porky Pig cartoon, obviously influenced by surrealism [81]
Tree Trunk to Head Lewis Jacobs Chaim Gross United States Semi-documentary, silent [82]
Fragment from Caroland's Mansion Frank Stauffacher United States [83]
1939
Le Vampire Jean Painlevé France
The City (1939 film) Ralph Steiner, Willard Van Dyke United States City film for New York World's Fair, written by Pare Lorentz[84]
Love on the Wing Norman McLaren United Kingdom Abstract animation, color [85]
Spook Sport Mary Ellen Bute, Ted Nemeth, Norman McLaren United States Abstract animation, color [86]
Stars and Stripes Norman McLaren United Kingdom Abstract animation, color [87]
Scherzo Norman McLaren United Kingdom Abstract animation, color [87]
Haiti Rudy Burckhardt United States [88]
Dance of the Colors Hans Fischinger United States Abstract animation, color [9]

References

  • Jan Christopher Horak, ed. Lovers of Cinema: The First American Avant-Garde, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison WI 1995
  • Paul Rotha and Roger Manvell, "Movie Parade: A Pictorial Survey of the Cinema" London: The Studio, 1936
  • Parker Tyler, "Underground Film: A Critical History" New York: Da Capo Press, 1995 (originally published in 1969)
  • David Curtis, "Experimental Cinema" New York: Universe Books, 1970
  • Bruce Posner, ed. Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant-Garde Film, Black Thistle Press/Anthology Film Archives, NYC 2001
  1. ^ imdb entry
  2. ^ BAM/PFA Film Program
  3. ^ imdb entry
  4. ^ imdb entry
  5. ^ DVD Savant review of "Le fin du monde" [1]
  6. ^ imdb entry
  7. ^ imdb entry
  8. ^ Jesse Shapins, "Walter Ruttmann's Weekend"
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u CVM Fichinger filmography
  10. ^ imdb entry
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i Unseen Cinema Program
  12. ^ a b c d e Themerson Archive Filmography
  13. ^ imdb entry
  14. ^ imdb entry
  15. ^ Crying for the Carolines (1930)
  16. ^ imdb entry
  17. ^ imdb entry
  18. ^ a b Bruce Posner, ed. Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant-Garde Film, Black Thistle Press/Anthology Film Archives, NYC 2001
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Jan Christopher Horak, ed. Lovers of Cinema: The First American Avant-Garde, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison WI 1995
  20. ^ William Drew, "Mário Peixoto" [2]
  21. ^ imdb entry
  22. ^ [imdb entry The Light Penetrates the Dark (1931)
  23. ^ DVD Savant review of "Le fin du monde" [imdb entry [3]
  24. ^ imdb entry
  25. ^ a b Unseen Cinema program
  26. ^ imdb entry
  27. ^ a b c Ira H. Gallen, Seymour Stern: American Film Critic, Guardian and Prophet SEYMOUR STERN: AMERICAN FILM CRITIC, GUARDIAN and PROPHET by D.W. GRIFFITH - DIRECTOR on Myspace
  28. ^ imdb entry
  29. ^ imdb entry
  30. ^ The Art of Memory
  31. ^ imdb entry
  32. ^ a b c d e f g Peter Hames: Czech and Slovak Cinema: Theme and Tradition, Edinburgh University Press, 2009
  33. ^ imdb entry
  34. ^ imdb entry
  35. ^ Herman G. Weinberg, Unanswered Question: Eisenstein's Qué vivá México! in Bruce Posner, ed. Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant-Garde Film, Black Thistle Press/Anthology Film Archives, NYC 2001
  36. ^ imdb entry
  37. ^ a b c d e Unseen Cinema program
  38. ^ Lewis Jacobs, Experimental Cinema in America Part One: 1921-1941, Hollywood Quarterly Vol.3 No. 2, Winter 1947-48
  39. ^ imdb entry
  40. ^ imdb entry
  41. ^ Europa film treasures
  42. ^ imdb entry
  43. ^ imdb entry
  44. ^ imdb entry
  45. ^ Allmovie review of "L'Age d'or" [4]
  46. ^ imdb entry
  47. ^ 7 Till 5 (1933)
  48. ^ imdb entry
  49. ^ a b imdb entry
  50. ^ imdb entry
  51. ^ First Light: Steiner
  52. ^ imdb entry
  53. ^ imdb entry
  54. ^ imdb entry
  55. ^ Soviet Films blog
  56. ^ Soviet Films blog
  57. ^ imdb entry
  58. ^ Monoskop Vávra bio
  59. ^ La Joie de Vivre - 1934 - Europa Film Treasures
  60. ^ imdb entry
  61. ^ Unseen Cinema on DVD
  62. ^ NARA entry
  63. ^ imdb entry
  64. ^ a b Film and Photo League Filmography
  65. ^ Vávra Monoskop Bio
  66. ^ Ikono: "Man Ray Three Short Films and a documentary [5]
  67. ^ imdb entry
  68. ^ imdb entry
  69. ^ imdb entry
  70. ^ 100 Dance Treasures: Ted Shawn [6]
  71. ^ imdb entry
  72. ^ imdb entry
  73. ^ Criterion Collection, "Redes" [7]
  74. ^ imdb entry
  75. ^ Rudy Burckhardt Films DVD
  76. ^ imdb entry
  77. ^ Senses of Cinema essay
  78. ^ imdb entry
  79. ^ imdb entry
  80. ^ John C. Film Notes Blog
  81. ^ imdb entry
  82. ^ imdb entry
  83. ^ Unseen Cinema program #11
  84. ^ imdb entry
  85. ^ imdb entry
  86. ^ imdb entry
  87. ^ a b imdb entry
  88. ^ Richard Bartone, "Notes on Four Films by Rudolph Burckhardt"
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