Louis de Rochemont Movies
In 1934, American producer Louis de Rochemont along with Roy E. Larsen from Time, Inc created the innovative March of Time documentary newsreels that differed from other newsreels by offering detailed, lively accounts and dramatizations of current news. De Rochemont directed the first episode, "The Ramparts We Watch," a chronicle of the effects of Europe's WW II upon average Americans. Prior to becoming a filmmaker, de Rochemont served six years in the U.S. Navy as an officer. After he left, he began working for different newsreel companies and did everything from filming to administrative tasks. Once the March of Time series was well under way, he left in 1943 to work with Fox where he set to work producing the documentary The Fighting Lady, which he made in conjunction with the Navy. This film won an Academy Award in 1944. He continued working with Fox through the war and for a while after making docudramas of true stories-- Boomerang! (1947). Eventually, he and former workers from the March of Time teamed up to form Louis de Rochemont Associates and continued producing through 1961. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
This film is not only a revealing glimpse into the workings of the O.S.S. (Office of Strategic Services) during WW II, but it is also a full-fledged spy thriller. An excellent cast includes James Cagney, Karl Malden, E.G. Marshall, and Red Buttons. Cagney stars as an O.S.S. training officer, bent upon discovering a German traitor within his ranks while at the same time completing highly dangerous espionage assignments. The risks increase when one of his men is murdered from within, and Cagney, convinced he knows who the murdering infiltrator is, vows revenge. Authentic O.S.S. film footage make this film historically significant as well as entertaining. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- James Cagney, Annabella, (more)
- 1955
The British animation firm of John Halas and Joy Batchelor perform yeoman service in adapting George Orwell's allegorical novel Animal Farm to the screen. As any high-school English student can tell you,the original 1945 novel was Orwell's spin on the rise and fall of the Communist myth. A group of intelligent animals overthrow their corrupt human owner and set up their own self-sustained farm, predicated on an idealistic credo: "All Animals are Created Equal", "No Animal Shall Ever Drink Liquor", "Four Legs Good: Two Legs Bad" etc. But when Snowball the Pig (read: Trotsky) is overthrown by the despotic Napoleon (read: Stalin), all idealism goes out the window, and soon the pigs are ruling dictatorially over the other animals. Before long, Animal Farm operates on but one principle: "All Animals Are Created Equal, But Some Are More Equal Than Others." Orwell's ironic ending, in which it becomes impossible to tell the difference between the Pigs and the Humans, is blunted in favor of a grafted-on happy ending, perhaps to mollify the kiddie trade. Maurice Denham supplies all the character's voices, while Gordon Heath serves as narrator. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Boomerang, directed by Elia Kazan, is a chilling film noir, the true story about the murder of a priest, the subsequent arrest and trial of a jobless drifter, and the efforts of young state's attorney Henry Harvey (Dana Andrews) to uncover the truth. Closely based on the actual 1924 murder of Fr. Hubert Dahme in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the film was directed by the young Elia Kazan in a highly effective, semi-documentary style. Kazan shot most of the film on location, using high-contrast cinematography and an extremely mobile camera to create a palpable sense of urgency. The screenplay, expertly crafted by Richard Murphy received an Academy Award nomination. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dana Andrews, Jane Wyatt, (more)
- 1955
Released two years after This is Cinerama, Cinerama Holiday is the second feature-length demonstration of the famed three-camera process. As plotless as the first entry, Holiday nonetheless kept its audience enthralled throughout its 119 minutes. Among the sights displayed on the curved, 165-degree screen are the man-made canyons of New York, the Swiss Alps, the beauties of Paris, the autumnal splendor of New Hampshire, the glitz and glitter of Las Vegas and a high-rise restaurant in San Francisco. The "money scenes" include a motorcycle ride and a cowpunchng demonstration. The various sequences are tied together by two couples, the Marshes and the Trollers, who are ostensibly taking the holiday that is being recorded by the Cinerama cameras. Produced by Louis de Rochemont (of March of Time fame), Cinerama Holiday was codirected by former child actor Philippe De Lacy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- John March
- 1932
Three years before establishing his March of Time film series, documentary producer Louis de Rochemont served up the historical review Cry of the World. The 65-minute film covers the years 1914 to 1932, from the outbreak of WWI to the Lindbergh kidnapping. Among the personalities and subjects covered are Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, the Russian Revolution and the Women's Suffrage Movement. Most of the footage has been culled from the archives of Fox Movietone News, including a delightful couple of minutes with a surprisingly benign George Bernard Shaw. Cry of the World was released by the International Film Foundation. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
One of three morale-boosting government documentaries directed by Lieutenant Colonel William Wyler (the others were The Memphis Belle and Thunderbolt), The Fighting Lady follows the exploits of an aircraft carrier, its crew, and the planes transported on its deck. The officers and enlistees are not required to perform; that function is handled by a professional narrator. Much of the combat footage resurfaced in the postwar era to bolster many a low-budget aviation picture. As an added advantage, The Fighting Lady was photographed in full color by Edward Steichen, meaning that the stock footage would come in handy on TV from the 1960s onward. The Fighting Lady is frequently released on videocassette in tandem with one or both of William Wyler's other government-sponsored films. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1949
Until the House Un-American Activities Committee horned in, several postwar Hollywood films dealt with touchy "liberal" subject matter. Lost Boundaries stars Mel Ferrer as a light-skinned African-American, whose family is "passing" in an all-white New England community. When the truth comes out, the more bigoted neighbors demand the expulsion of Ferrer and his family. Considered pretty potent stuff in 1949, Lost Boundaries appears fairly conventional today, especially in its reluctance to cast a genuine black actor in the lead. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Beatrice Pearson, Mel Ferrer, (more)
- 1960
An unexceptional spy drama by Andre De Toth, Man on a String is based on an autobiography by counterspy Boris Morros, here given the name of Boris Mitrov and played by Ernest Borgnine. Mitrov was born in Russia but had been a citizen of the U.S. for some time when he joins up with a Russian spy network. He is caught out by the CIA, and they offer him a deal: go to the USSR and spy for our side, or else. Boris' boss is Bob Avery (the handsome Kerwin Mathews) and Colleen Dewhurst is Helen Benson, the lone female in the story. Clichéd dialogue aside, the scenes shot in Moscow and Berlin add convincing realism to the action. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ernest Borgnine, Kerwin Mathews, (more)
- 1950
This first volume of a six-part series is called March of Time: American Lifestyles - Show Business, the War Years. The segments include "The Movie Marches On," "Show Business at War," and "Challenge to Hollywood." Gleaned from nearly two decades of newsreels produced by Time Magazine during the years 1935-1951, the monumental The March of Time videotape series features the pictorial journalism that informed, educated, and entertained millions of Americans for over a decade, and won two Academy awards as well. The video series was created from newsreels originally produced by Louis de Rochemont and narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis, who was for many Americans of the time, "the voice of the news." ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi
- 1953
Virtually every Lutheran in America has seen Martin Luther during a church-basement screening. Niall McGinniss plays the title role, while the rest of the cast is an adroit mixture of professional actors, clerics and Biblical scholars. The film recounts Martin Luther's 16th-century break from Catholicism, his posting of the 95 theses, and his ultimate creation of the Protestant Movement. The dramatic highlight is Luther's "Here I stand" speech, straightforwardly directed by Irving Pichel (who also plays a supporting role). Filmed in West Germany, Martin Luther was a collaboration between Lutheran Productions Inc. and Louis de Rochemont associates. The film caused a minor brouhaha when its Chicago TV debut in 1956 was successfully blocked by the local Catholic Archdiocese. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Niall MacGinnis, John Ruddock, (more)
- 1971
In what must surely set some kind of record for speedy film editing, this film, which excerpts six rounds from the Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier title rematch of March 8, 1971, was released on March 12, 1971. A near-riot broke out at the first screening, as many of the patrons had expected to see the entire fight. During the fight itself, the filmmakers used a dozen hand-held cameras to record the event. In some cases, the camera angles captured the fight more revealingly than the TV cameras (in place for the pay-per-view showing) did. In others (the knockout), they do not. The movie cameras also took in some ringside happenings that did not appear in the TV coverage -- including Ali's pre-game prayers. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
Filmed in semi-documentary fashion, House on 92nd Street is a "now it can be told" drama about the smashing of a Nazi spy ring operating the U.S. Thanks to covert surveillance, the FBI learns of the presence of several suspicious persons in NYC. William Eythe is a German-American college student approached by the spies to become a secret Nazi operative. Eythe instead heads directly to FBI chief Lloyd Nolan and offers his services as a double agent. His mission is to locate the head of the spy ring, an unseen figure known only as Mr. Christopher, and to that end Eythe infiltrates the ring, headquarted in a town house on 92nd street. Among the conspirators are an erudite German colonel (Leo G. Carroll) and the beautiful female owner of the house (Signe Hasso). Part of the plot involves the smuggling to Germany of America's atomic secrets by a weak-willed document clerk (played by Gene Lockhart, one of the best "cringers" in the business). Dwelling a bit too long on the meticulous research techniques of the FBI, House on 92nd Street picks up momentum in the final sequence, wherein "Mr. Christopher" is revealed and double agent Eythe barely escapes with his skin intact. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Eythe, Lloyd Nolan, (more)
- 1941
The March of Time collection of documentaries includes 45 episodes that use newsreel footage and narration to portray historical events from the first half of the 20th century. This second volume of the American Defense section of the America at War series is focused on the United States' armed forces in World War II. The program consists of seven segments from newsreels of the period, released by Time magazine. The program is narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis. ~ Alice Duncan, Rovi
- 1945
The March of Time collection of documentaries includes 45 programs that use newsreel footage and narration to portray historical events from the first half of the 20th century. This first volume of the Friend & Foe section of the America at War series consists of selected sections of newsreels produced during World War II and released by Time magazine. This volume contains six newsreel selections that focus on the Allied nations, the Axis powers, and the countries that stayed neutral. The program is narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis. ~ Alice Duncan, Rovi
- 1945
Narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis, this video continues the newsreel chronicles of Allied, Axis, and neutral nations during World War II. The March of Time: America at War -- Friend and Foe, Pt. 3 features the archival newsfilm segments "The Irish Quest," "Underground Report," "British Imperialism -- 1944," "What to Do With Germany," "Inside China Today," "Memo From Britain," and "Report of Italy." Gleaned from newsreels produced by Time Magazine during the years 1935-1951, the monumental March of Time videotape series features the "pictorial journalism" that informed, educated, and entertained millions of Americans for 16 years. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi
- 1943
Produced by the Academy award-winning Louis de Rochemont, the newsreels that comprise this compilation video concern the issues and sacrifices facing American civilians during World War II. Narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis, the archival film news footage includes the segments "Our America at War," "When Air Raids Strike," "Men in Washington, 1942," "The FBI Front," "Bill Jack vs. Adolf Hitler!," "The West Coast Question" and "Spot-light on Congress." Gleaned from newsreels produced by Time Magazine during the years 1935-1951, the monumental The March of Time videotape series features the pictorial journalism that informed, educated, and entertained millions of Americans for 16 years. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi
- 1950
In March of Time: American Lifestyles - Show Business, the Postwar Years 1946-1950, narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis, the segments include "The Nightclub Boom," "Is Everybody Listening," "On Stage," "It's in the Groove," and "Beauty at Work." Gleaned from nearly two decades of newsreels produced by Time during the years 1935-1951, the monumental March of Time videotape series features the pictorial journalism that informed, educated, and entertained millions of Americans for over a decade, and won two Academy awards as well. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi
- 1948
The rapid post-World War II changes in the American family are revealed in the fourth part of this video series looking at American lifestyles during the 1940s. Narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis, The March of Time: American Lifestyles - The American Family, the Post-War Years presents the archival news segments "Life With Baby," "Nobody's Children," "Life With Junior," "Life With Grandpa," and "Marriage and Divorce." Gleaned from nearly two decades of newsreels produced by Time, Inc. during the years 1935-1951, the monumental The March of Time videotape series features the pictorial journalism that informed, educated, and entertained millions of Americans for over a decade, and won two Academy awards as well. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi
- 1945
Newsreel voice-over star Westbrook Van Voorhis narrates March of Time: American Lifestyles - American Family: War Years 1941-1945, the third part of this documentary video series. The segment titles are "Americans All," "Mr. and Mrs. America," "America's Food Crisis," and "Where's The Meat?" Gleaned from nearly two decades of newsreels produced by Time during the years 1935-1951, the monumental March of Time videotape series features the pictorial journalism that informed, educated, and entertained millions of Americans for over a decade, and won two Academy awards as well. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi
- 1953
The first volume in The March of Time video series March of Time: Post-War Problems, Vol. 1 features an array of archival newsreel footage concerning Americans recovering from World War II. Included are clips and stories covering postwar planning for jobs and employment, new discoveries in farming, the problems facing servicemen and their families as soldiers return to civilian life, the rise in alcoholism, the housing shortage, and the American cop. Gleaned from nearly two decades of newsreels produced by Time Magazine during the years 1935-1951, the monumental The March of Time videotape series features the "pictorial journalism" that informed, educated and entertained millions of Americans for over a decade, and won two Academy Awards as well. The newsreels from which this series was created were originally produced by Louis de Rochmont and are narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis, who was for many Americans of the time "the voice of the news." ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi
- 1953
The March of Time newsreel series was originally shown during the World War II era to help Americans learn how much longer war-related matters would require their attention or keep their friends and relatives abroad while fighting on their behalf. This particular program was compiled from several newsreels that addressed the many post-war problems that faced the U.S. How would the country respond to the plight of the millions of new orphans abroad or resolve the Palestine problem? Issues in Germany and France cried out for resolution. Some of America's responses to these crises are detailed in the footage shared here. ~ Elizabeth Smith, Rovi
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