Created by
Union Films, 1946 - 1953
Produced by
Marzani, Carl, American, 1912 - 1994
Directed by
Glandbard, Max, American, 1915 - 1987
Subject of
Progressive Party, American, 1948 - 1955
Robeson, Paul, American, 1898 - 1976
Wallace, Henry, American, 1888 - 1965
Composed by
Hovey, Serge, American, 1920 - 1989
Owned by
Bowser, Pearl, American, 1931 - 2023
Date
1948
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration: 15 min.
Physical extent (film): 600 ft
Caption
"This fifteen-minute documentary provides an invaluable record of the Progressive Party’s gathering even as it combines “people’s songs” with film in an innovative, almost experimental manner. As with several earlier Union Films productions, there is some effort to theatricalize events. A People’s Convention has a protagonist, “Joe,” who is attending the convention and is shown in both the introductory and final shot, while making several appearances over the course of the picture. His presence, however, is quickly subsumed by the desire to document the convention, which was all the more urgent given the distortions that were being generated by the news media."
Musser, Charles. "A People’s Convention (Union Films, 1948)." Charles Musser. Accessed May 12, 2016. http://www.charlesmusser.com/?page_id=1672.
Description
A documentary short with the title "A People's Convention." It consists of a single reel of black-and-white 16mm acetate film with optical sound. It was produced by Union Films and covers the 1948 Progressive Party Convention in Philadelphia, PA.
Place filmed
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Pearl Bowser Collection
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Type
sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
short subjects
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Film
Folk (Music)
Mass media
Politics
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser
Object number
2012.79.1.1.1a
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd52d70b541-e540-4d19-8a59-812b9cfeb89d

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

Share this page