Louis de Rochemont Movies

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

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

This 75-minute celebration of the U.S. Marine Corps was assembled by the staff of The March of Time, under the supervision of Louis de Rochemont. The early portions of the film deal with the history of the Corps, from Colonial times to the present day (1942, that is). The film's midsection details the arduous training procedure of the Few and the Proud at Parris Island and elsewhere. Finally, wartime newsreel footage is adroitly blended with dramatized re-enactments to illustrate the contributions -- and the utter necessity--of the marines in WW II. We are the Marines was written by a four-man screenwriting staff, including Marine lieutenant John Monks Jr. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The United States officially maintained neutrality as long as possible while the military urgently geared up for the war that was engulfing the world. Newsreels originally produced by Louis de Rochemont and narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis comprise the third episode of the six-volume March of Time: War Breaks Out videotape series. Subtitled The Military Prepares, this program chronicles the U.S. military's efforts at preparedness throughout the 1930s, up until 1941. Archival newsreel segments include: "Soldiers With Wings," about the use of airplanes by the U.S. Army; "Crisis in the Pacific," concerning Japan's efforts to control Guam; "The U.S. Navy," a report on the expansion of America's naval forces; "Gateways to Panama," examining the key role of the Panama Canal to America's naval defense; "Arms and the Men: U.S.A.," reporting on the transition from the production of consumer goods to weapons, machines and munitions for the war effort; "Crisis in the Atlantic"; and "Sailors with Wings," about the use of airplanes by the U.S. Navy. Gleaned from newsreels produced by Time Magazine during the years 1935-1951, the monumental The March of Time videotape collection features the Academy award-winning "pictorial journalism" that informed, educated, and entertained millions of Americans for a decade and a half. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi

Newsreels originally produced by Louis de Rochemont and narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis comprise the last episode of the six-volume March of Time: War Breaks Out videotape series. Subtitled Praying for Peace, this program chronicles the efforts of the Catholic Church in Rome to achieve an end to the war during 1940 and 1941. Archival newsreel reports include "The Vatican of Pius XII" and "The Story of the Vatican." The first report examines the efforts of Pope Pius XII (1876-1958) to bring about world peace. The second story features a photographic tour of the splendors of the Vatican, venturing into areas where visitors have previously been excluded. Gleaned from newsreels produced by Time Magazine during the years 1935-1951, the monumental The March of Time videotape collection features the Academy Award-winning "pictorial journalism" that informed, educated, and entertained millions of Americans for a decade and a half. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi

Halfway between a documentary and a wartime drama, RKO Radio's The Ramparts We Watch was the first feature-length production from Time Inc., the publishing firm responsible for RKO's March of Time newsreel series. Focusing on a "typical" American small town, the story takes place in the years between 1914 and 1918, just before the United States' intervention in WW1. Producer-director Louis de Rochemont draws several very pointed parallels between the complacency of the "teen" years and the isolationism preceding WW2, showing how a lack of preparedness for global war can lead to disastrous consequences. The film was lensed on location in New London, Connecticut, with several of the town's residents playing major roles. Just to make sure that the audience in 1940 knew what they'd be up against in the event of America's entry into WW2, DeRochemont incorporated several sobering clips from the Nazi-propaganda documentary Baptism of Fire. Based on a cautionary book by Major George Fielding Elliot, The Ramparts we Watch was narrated by March of Time mainstay Westbrook Van Voorhis. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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 Battle Beyond section of the War Breaks Out series consists of selected sections of newsreels produced during World War II and released by Time magazine. Segments include: "Battle Fleets of England," "Newsfronts of War: 1940," "The Republic of Finland," "Canada at War," "The Philippines: 1898-1946," and "Spoils of Conquest." The program is narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis. ~ Alice Duncan, Rovi

Newsreels originally produced by Louis de Rochemont and narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis comprise the third part of the March of Time -- Trouble Abroad videotape series. Subtitled Germany and Other Problems, this installment chronicles the growing unrest in Europe immediately prior to World War II, as well as general issues and concerns within the United States in 1938. Archival newsfilm segments include "Inside Nazi Germany"; "Russians in Exile," about the flight of white Russians to Europe and the U.S.; "Old Dixie's New Bloom," concerning the pine industry in the Southern U.S.; "One Million Missing," profiling the work of New York's Missing Person's Bureau; "Arms and The League," about the League of Nations; "Brain Trust Island," examining the development of Key West, FL; "Nazi Conquest -- No. 1"; "Racketeers vs. Housewives"; "Friend of the People," a look at U.S. electioneering; "England's Bankrupt Peers"; and "Crime and Prison," about the rehabilitation of U.S. criminals. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi

The world teetered on the verge of war in 1939. Newsreels originally produced by Louis de Rochemont and narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis comprise the last part of the six-volume March of Time: Trouble Abroad videotape series. Subtitled War, Peace and America, this video chronicles the news of pre-World War II 1939. Archival newsreel segments include "The Mediterranean -- Background for War," about the political situations in North Africa; "Japan -- Master of the Orient"; "Dixie -- U.S.A.," a report on the depressed economic conditions in the southern United States; "War, Peace and Propaganda," a look at England's presence at the 1939 World's Fair; and "Metropolis -- 1939," about the social conditions which police must deal with in 1939 New York City. Gleaned from newsreels produced by Time Magazine during the years 1935-1951, the monumental March of Time videotape collection features the Academy Award-winning "pictorial journalism" that informed, educated, and entertained millions of Americans for a decade and a half. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi

This is part six of the Great Depression series originally produced by Time magazine. It features black-and-white footage compiled from segments of March of Time newsreel series. It features various newsworthy aspects of 1937, including conquering cancer, Mormonism, midwinter vacations, the father of all Turks, the birth of swing, enemies of alcohol, and child labor. ~ Karla Baker, Rovi