1937 - THE SPANISH EARTH, well meaning but boring documentary on the Spanish Civil War

A documentary about the Spanish Civil War which was considered to be the first big stand against the rise of fascism in Europe during the 1930's.

The film was directed by Joris Ivens a left leaning documentary filmmaker.  Ernest Hemingway who had logged a lot of time partying and watching bullfights wrote and spoke the narration.  Another good liberal Marc Blietzstein composed the score.  The end result is this boring film. 

The Spanish Earth was probably shot as a silent film.  The film crew was apparently not allowed where the actual fighting was going on.  There are lots of shots of soldiers and recruits training.  During the film, Hemingway even says that the cameras couldn't get very close.  So Ivens shoots a lot of film of the Spanish people, farming which is not exactly exciting stuff.

The scenes of war that Ivens supposedly captured seem very suspect and the explosions filmed were clearly edited in, since the shots don't match.

Joris Ivens directs safely from his hotel room.

The whole things comes off as a patronizing tribute to "the little people,"  if there's one thing that rich famous white liberals know, it's what's best for the simple people.

52 minutes.