Oscar’s Docs, 1950–87: Creative Expression

February 1–13, 2012

The Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters

Oscar’s Docs, the annual collaboration between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and MoMA’s Department of Film, surveys Oscar nominees and winners in the categories of Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short Subject. Diverging from the previous editions, which included films that documented wartime, social change, and scientific explorations, this fifth edition of Oscar’s Docs focuses on the arts and humanities. Examining well-known subjects—Jacques d’Amboise, Arthur Rubinstein, Robert Frost, Saul Bass, and Marc Chagall, among others—established in the fields of music, dance, art, and literature, as well as amateurs and craftsmen, the filmmakers were often first-time producer/directors, inspired by their subjects to use the nonfiction medium as a tool to express their own creativity. This exhibition is organized by Rajendra Roy, The Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film, Jenny He, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Film, and Ed Carter, Documentary Curator, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Special thanks to Jane Gutteridge, National Film Board of Canada; Sarah Finklea, Janus Films; Wendy Clarke; John Reed, National Library of Wales; and Jennifer Bass. All prints are courtesy of the Academy Film Archive (Woodstockis courtesy of the Constellation Center Collection at the Academy Film Archive).

Press Contact:Sarah Jarvis, 212-708-9757,

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Hours: Films are screened Wednesday-Monday. For screening schedules, please visit our HUFilm ExhibitionsUH.

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Hours:Wednesday through Monday: 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Friday: 10:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.

Screening Schedule

Oscar’s Docs, 1950–87: Creative Expression

The Roy and Niuta Titus Theater, T2

February 1–13, 2012

Wednesday, February 1

4:00Flamenco at 5:15. 1983.Canada. Directed by CynthiaScott. Supported by theNational Film Board of Canada,Scott had set out to documentthe evolution of a ballet dancer.While doing research atthe National Ballet Schoolof Canada, she becameenthralled with the lively 5:15p.m. class led by flamencoteachers Susan and AntonioRobledo, and soon changedthe focus of her film. Thisdocumentary short capturesthe infectious energy of danceand the inspirational effect ofenthusiastic instructors. 29 min.

He Makes Me Feel LikeDancin’. 1983. USA. Directedby Emile Adolino. With Jacquesd’Amboise, Kevin Kline. Withcinematographic and editingstyles that emulate its kineticsubject, this documentaryfollows dancer d’Amboiseas he trains performers forthe National Dance Institute’s“Event of the Year,” a productionof Fat City at Madison SquareGarden that features Kline,amateur dancers fromthe NYPD, and 1,000 kids.D’Amboise founded the institutein 1976 to help public schoolchildren discover the artsthrough dance, and this filmencapsulates the positive(and at times fanatical)influence of show businesson the young aspiring dancers.48 min.

7:00Close Harmony. 1981. USA.Directed by Nigel Noble.After attending a stirring jointperformance by the studentchorus of Brooklyn FriendsSchool and members ofthe Council Center for SeniorCitizens in Flatbush, Brooklyn,Noble was inspired to tellthe story of their annualcollaboration. Going behindthe scenes as the twochoral groups prepare fortheir performance, Noble’sdirectorial debut demonstratesmusic’s ability to bridge dividesand serve as common groundfor different generations.30 min.

Paul Robeson: Tribute to anArtist. 1979. USA. Directedby Saul J. Turell. Narratedby Sidney Poitier. Usingextensive archival footage,this biography recounts the riseand fall of Robeson’s career.An outspoken civil rights pioneer,Robeson broke through racialbarriers on screen and stagewith his noted performances asOthello and the Emperor Jones,as well as his concert tours inthe U.S. and Europe. After WWII,his pro-Soviet views led to hisblacklisting in America, and the State Department revokedhis passport, ostensibly ending his career. Turell crafted this filmic tribute shortly afterRobeson’s death, in 1976,in an effort to restore the reputation of a brilliant performer maligned by politics.30 min.

Thursday, February 2

4:00From Mao to Mozart: IsaacStern in China. 1980. USA.Directed by Murray Lerner.At the end of the CulturalRevolution in 1979, Chinareopened its doors to the West(and Western ideas). As partof this renewed openness,the Chinese government invited renowned violinist Isaac Stern to perform with the ChinaCentral Symphony. The filmfollows Stern during rehearsals,performances, and studentlectures, gradually revealingthe personal and politicalimpact of this groundbreakingcultural exchange. 84 min.Introduced by and Q&A with Lerner.

7:00Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’veGot. 1986. Canada. Directedby Brigitte Berman. Thisin-depth examination ofthe life and career of clarinetistand bandleader Artie Shawcuts between archival footage,location shots, and an interviewwith Shaw himself. Bermanillustrates the tumultuous, complicated, and remarkablelegacy of a man who broughtnumerous innovations tojazz and swing music duringthe big-band era. 114 min.Introduced by and QA with Berman.

Friday, February 3

6:00Woodstock. 1970. USA.Directed by Michael Wadleigh.With a list of collaboratorsincluding Thelma Schoonmakerand Martin Scorsese, thepedigree of this epic concertfilm/cutural document is nearly as legendary as the line-up of musical talent it captured—including Joan Baez, The Who, Arlo Guthrie, and Jimi Hendrix. Plagued by production difficulties and the last-minute exit of the original directors, Albert and David Maysles, this now-classic rock-doc almost didn’t happen. Print courtesy of the ConstellationCenter Collection at the Academy Film Archive.185 min.

Saturday, February 4

4:00Arthur Rubinstein: Love ofLife. 1969. France. Directedby Gérard Patris, FrançoiseReichenbach. One of the titansof 20th-century classicalmusic, internationally acclaimedpianist Arthur Rubinsteinwas especially known for hisinterpretations of Chopinand Mozart. This documentary“highlights his unconditionallyjoyous attitude, as well ashis boundless enthusiasm formusic. It reveals Rubinsteinthe man as much as Rubinsteinthe artist. He’s a witty, erudite, cosmopolitan, elegant raconteur,as adept at acting out a humorousstory as interpreting a sonata”(Luisa Ribeiro and Ed Carter,Academy Film Archive). InEnglish and French; Englishsubtitles. 89 min.Introduced by Eva Rubinstein.

7:00Robert Frost: A Lover’s Quarrel with the World. 1963.USA. Directed by Shirley Clarke.Codirected by Robert Hughes,Terence Macartney-Filgate.An intimate portrait of the sageof American poets, set inthe environs of his belovedVermont. 51 min.

Dylan Thomas. 1962. GreatBritain. Written, produced,and directed by Jack Howells.Narrated by Richard Burton.“A film of love. Love, and perhapsa longing for a past that no longerexists. A love of the Welshlandscape, and the smallseaside towns from whichDylan’s words and poetry havegrown” (John Reed, NationalScreen and Sound Archiveof Wales). 31 min.

Sunday, February 5

2:00Why Man Creates. 1968.USA. Produced and directedby Saul Bass. Written by Bass,Mayo Simon. “I was tryingto demonstrate in both thecontent and form of the filmthe nature of the creativeprocess. And, in passing,to celebrate the variety,the richness and importanceof the creative vision” (SaulBass). 29 min.

The Ten-Year Lunch: The Witand Legend of the AlgonquinRound Table. 1987. USA.Produced and directed by AvivaSlesin. Hosted by HeywoodHale Broun. The result ofyears of dedication by directorSlesin, this inspired film grantsus a seat at the legendary1920s-era gatherings ofliterary and theatrical writersand critics at the AlgonquinHotel. 56 min. Introduced by and Q&A withSlesin.

5:00Gravity Is My Enemy. 1977.USA. Directed and editedby John Joseph. Mark Hicks,artist and quadriplegic, isthe inspirational center of thisexploration of art’s potentialto free the mind from the limitsof the body. 26 min.

The Titan: Story ofMichelangelo. 1950.Switzerland/West Germany.Directed by Richard Lyford.Screenplay by Norman Borisoff,Michael Sonnabend, adapted from the film Michelangelo: The Life of a Titan. Narratedby Fredric March. Born ofthe passion of producerRobert Snyder, this seminalart documentary (one ofthe few to have won an AcademyAward) melds several narrativesabout the Renaissancemaster. 60 min.

Chagall. 1963. USA. Directedby Lauro Venturi. Screenplayby Leonard Neubauer. Narratedby Vincent Price. “Born inthe shadows, Marc Chagallcharted his course througha Magic Universe of his owncreation. And here, amongthe sunlit hills of southern France, at last he reached his home” (Leonard Neubauer).25 min.

Glass. 1959. The Netherlands.Written and directed by BertHaanstra. One of the mostpopular documentary shortsever to win an Oscar, thisinquisitive comparison ofhandmade and mechanicalglass production has beendescribed as visual poetry.8 min. Program 119 min.

Wednesday, February 8

4:00Woodstock. 1970. USA.Directed by Michael Wadleigh.Print courtesy of the ConstellationCenter Collection at the Academy Film Archive.185 min. (See Friday, February 3, 6:00).

Thursday, February 9

4:00Robert Frost: A Lover’s Quarrel with the World. 1963.USA. Directed by Shirley Clarke.Codirected by Robert Hughes,Terence Macartney-Filgate.51 min.

Dylan Thomas. 1962. GreatBritain. Written, produced,and directed by Jack Howells.Narrated by Richard Burton.31 min. (SeeSaturday, February 4, 7:00).

7:00Arthur Rubinstein: Love ofLife. 1969. France. Directedby Gérard Patris, FrançoiseReichenbach. InEnglish and French; Englishsubtitles. 89 min.(See Saturday, February 4, 4:00).

Friday, February 10

4:00Close Harmony. 1981. USA.Directed by Nigel Noble.30 min.

Paul Robeson: Tribute to anArtist. 1979. USA. Directedby Saul J. Turell. Narratedby Sidney Poitier. 30 min. (SeeWednesday, February 1, 7:00).

7:00Why Man Creates. 1968.USA. Produced and directedby Saul Bass. Written by Bass,Mayo Simon. 29 min.

The Ten-Year Lunch: The Witand Legend of the AlgonquinRound Table. 1987. USA.Produced and directed by AvivaSlesin. Hosted by HeywoodHale Broun. 56 min. (See Sunday, February 5, 2:00).

Saturday, February 11

4:00From Mao to Mozart: IsaacStern in China. 1980. USA.Directed by Murray Lerner.84 min. (SeeThursday, February 2, 4:00).

7:00Flamenco at 5:15. 1983.Canada. Directed by CynthiaScott. 29 min.

He Makes Me Feel LikeDancin’. 1983. USA. Directedby Emile Adolino. 48 min. (See Wednesday, February 1, 4:00).

Sunday, February 12

5:00Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’veGot. 1986. Canada. Directedby Brigitte Berman. 114 min.(See Thursday, February 2, 7:00).

Monday, February 13

4:00Gravity Is My Enemy. 1977.USA. Directed and editedby John Joseph. 26 min.

The Titan: Story ofMichelangelo. 1950.Switzerland/West Germany.Directed by Richard Lyford.Screenplay by Norman Borisoff,Michael Sonnabend, adapted from the film Michelangelo: The Life of a Titan. Narratedby Fredric March. 60 min.

Chagall. 1963. USA. Directedby Lauro Venturi. Screenplayby Leonard Neubauer. Narratedby Vincent Price. 25 min.

Glass. 1959. The Netherlands.Written and directed by BertHaanstra. 8 min.

Program 119 min.(See Sunday, February 5, 5:00).