A Decade of Left-leaning Non-Fiction, 1938–1948

On 28.11., Leyda’s student Charles Musser is showing four films to recall the committed role that Leyda played in the trade union film work of the 30s and 40s. Musser’s selection begins with THE PEOPLE OF THE CUMBERLAND (see 2.11.), with which Frontier Films gave the trade union film movement an important stimulus. It is followed by two outstanding films aimed at mobilization, including UNITED ACTION MEANS VICTORY (Michael Martini, USA 1939), whose theme is a legendary tool makers’ strike at General Motors and whose soundtrack was arranged by Frontier Films. THE PEOPLE’S CONGRESSMAN (Union Films, USA 1948) is the last film in the program, a campaign film for Vito Marcantonio, who represented the New York district of East Harlem for the left-wing Progressive Party in Washington. The program is framed by an online introduction by Charles Musser and a post-screening discussion.

(PDF) Charles Musser, Carl Marzani & Union Films: Making Left-wing Documentaries during the Cold War, 1946-53, in: The Moving Image, 9:1 (Spring 2009)

Films:
The People of the Cumberland Sidney Meyers, Jay Leyda USA 1938 16 mm engl. OV 18 min.
United Action Means Victory Michael Martini USA 1939 Digital file engl. OV 36 min.
Our Union Union Films, Carl Aldo Marzani USA 1949 16 mm engl. OV 21 min.
The People’s Congressman Union Films, Carl Aldo Marzani USA 1948 Digital file engl. OV 12 min.

Print sources are the Museum of Modern Art, New York (THE PEOPLE OF THE CUMBERLAND), the Library of Congress (UNITED ACTION MEANS VICTORY), Yale University (OUR UNION) and New York University (THE PEOPLE'S CONGRESSMAN).