List of avant-garde films of the 1930s

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A list of avant-garde and experimental films made in the 1930s. Unless where noted, all films had sound and were in black and white.

Title Director Cast Nation Notes
1930
L'Âge d'Or Luis Buñuel Gaston Modot, Lya Lys, Max Ernst France Surrealist feature, produced by Charles de Noailles[1]
Autour de la fin du monde Eugène Deslaw Abel Gance France Extraordinary, semi-experimental "making of" documentary shot on set of Abel Gance's "La fin du monde;" silent[2]
Apteka (Pharmacy) Stefan Themerson, Franciszka Themerson Poland Rayographic animation, lost[3]
Aimless Walk Alexandr Hackenschmied (Alexander Hammid) Czechoslovakia City film[4]
Borderline Kenneth Macpherson Paul Robeson, Hilda Doolittle United Kingdom Pool film; silent[5]
A City Symphony Herman G. Weinberg United States City film, never shown, disassembled and partly used in Autumn Fire[6]
Crying for the Carolines Leon Schlesinger, Neil McGuire Milton Charles United States A "Spooney Melodie;" Semi-abstract music short[7][8]
Earth Oleksandr Dovzhenko Soviet Union Silent feature; part of the director's Ukraine Trilogy.
It's a Bird Harold Mueller Charles Bowers, Lowell Thomas United States Semi-animated short where an egg transforms into an automobile[9]
Ein Lichtspiel: Schwarz/Weiss/Grau László Moholy-Nagy Weimar Republic
Light Rhythms Francis Brugière, Oswell Blakeston United Kingdom Light-oriented, non-animated abstract film[10]
Mechanical Principles Ralph Steiner United States Abstract film based on machinery; sometimes dated to 1933[11]
Mennschen am Sonntag (People on Sunday) Curt Siodmak, Robert Siodmak, Edgar G. Ulmer, Fred Zinnemann, Rochus Gliese Erwin Splettstößer, Brigitte Borchert Weimar Republic City film, partly written by Billy Wilder; silent[12]
The Power of Suggestion M.G. MacPherson, Jean Michelson United States Artkino production, Lost film[6]
À Propos de Nice Jean Vigo France City film
Romance Sentimentale Grigory Alexandrov, Sergei Eisenstein Mara Griy France "Étude cinematographique"[13]
The Story of a Nobody Jo Gerson, Louis Hirshman United States Experiment in subjective camerawork, Lost film[14]
Studie(s) Nr. 2-4 Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animations; Nr. 4 Lost[15]
R.5, Ein Spiel in Linien (Studie Nr. 5) Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation[15]
Studie Nr. 6 Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation[15]
Such Is Life  [de] Vera Baranovskaya, Theodor Pištěk Czechoslovakia Czech avant-garde social realist feature; silent[16]
Tomatoes Another Day United States Absurdist comedy written by Alec Wilder[17]
The Trap M.G. MacPherson, Jean Michelson United States Artkino production, Lost film[6]
Wochenende (Weekend) Walter Ruttmann Weimar Republic Audio-only film collage; no image[18]
Yamekraw Murray Roth Hugo Marianni & His Mediterraneans United States Vitaphone "opera film" visualization of tone poem by James Price Johnson, heavily indebted to German expressionism.[19][20][21]
1931
Autumn Fire Herman G. Weinberg Erna Bergman, Willy Hildebrand United States Cinematic poem; mixed nature and city film[6]
A Bronx Morning Jay Leyda United States City film; silent[22]
City of Contrasts Irving Browning United States City film[23][6]
Dance Film Ralph Steiner United States Dance film[6]
A Day in Santa Fe Lynn Riggs, James Hughes United States City film[10][24]
Douro, Faina Flouval Manoel de Oliveira Portugal City film
Enthusiasm: Symphony of the Donbass Dziga Vertov Soviet Union Documentary film with montage of both visuals and sound
Hearts of the West Theodore Huff United States Genre parody[6]
Imperial Valley Seymour Stern United States Experimental documentary, sometimes dated to 1932 or 1933; Stern taken off production which was finished by others, Lost film[25][26]
Limite Mário Peixoto Olga Breno, Raul Schnoor Brazil Advertised as 'pure cinema;' first Brazilian avant-garde film[27]
At the Prague Castle Alexandr Hackenschmied Czechoslovakia Semi-documentary[4]
Panther Woman of the Needle Trades, or The Lovely Life of Little Lisa Ralph Steiner Elizabeth Hawes, Morris Carnovsky United States Satire, print extant at MOMA[6]
Portrait of a Young Man in Three Movements Henwar Rodakiewicz United States Feature length experimental film, begun in 1925[28][29]
Studie(s) Nr. 7-9 Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation[15]
Surf and Seaweed Ralph Steiner United States Photographic abstract film, sometimes dated to 1930.[30]
The Light Penetrates the Darkness Otakar Vávra, František Pilát Czechoslovakia Photographic abstract film[31]
Taris, roi de l'eau Jean Vigo France Documentary about a swimming champion
1932
Blood of a Poet Jean Cocteau Lee Miller, Pauline Carton, Odette Talazacuez France Surrealist feature, produced by Charles de Noailles; often misdated to 1930-31[32]
Burleska Jan Kučera Czechoslovakia Experimental short; Kučera's only film[33]
Destiny Josef Berne United States Dated "ca. 1932"[6]
Europa Stefan Themerson, Franciszka Themerson Poland Abstract animation, based on the poem by Anatol Stern; lost, but partially reconstructed in 1984[3]
The Fortune Teller Jerome Hill United States Tinting and hand-coloring added in the 1960s[34][35]
Granite, a.k.a. The Quarry Ralph Steiner United States [6]
Harbor Scenes Ralph Steiner United States [6]
Histoire du soldat inconnu Henri Storck Belgium
L'idée Berthold Bartosch France Surreal animation; music by Arthur Honegger
Koloraturen (Coloratura) Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation[15]
Kuhle Wampe Bertolt Brecht, Slatan Dudow Weimar Republic Agitprop film, written by Bertolt Brecht with music by Hanns Eisler.
Land of the Sun Seymour Stern United States Experimental documentary[36][25]
Little Geezer Theodore Huff United States Genre parody[6][37]
Ornament Sound Experiments Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Synthetic sound experiments[15]
Poem 8 Emlen Etting Mary Binney Montgomery, Caresse Crosby United States Dance film, shot in 8mm, silent[38]
Před maturitou (Before Matriculation) Svatopluk Innemann, Vladislav Vančura Jindřich Plachta, František Smolík Czechoslovakia Semi-experimental feature film[33][39]
Qué vivá México! Sergei Eisenstein, Grigori Alexandrov Félix Balderas, Martín Hernández Mexico Begun in 1931, never completed by Eisenstein; edited into numerous other films[40]
Studie(s) Nr. 10-11 Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation[15]
Studie Nr. 12 Oskar Fischinger, Hans Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation[15]
Sur les bords de la caméra (Pictures on the Sideline) Henri Storck Belgium
Visions of Lourdes Charles Dekeukeleire Belgium
1933
7 till 5 Norman McLaren United Kingdom Amateur city film[41]
Dawn to Dawn Josef Berne, Seymour Stern Julie Haydon, Ole M. Ness, Frank Eklof United States a.k.a. "Black Dawn," short, Naturalist melodrama[42][6][43]
Deserter Vsevolod Pudovkin Boris Livanov, Vasili Kovrigin Soviet Union Asynchronous use of sound and image[44]
Drobiazg Melodyjny (Moment Musical) Stefan Themerson, Franciszka Themerson Poland Rayographic animation, Lost[3]
Footnote to Fact Lewis Jacobs United States City film[45]
G-3 Ralph Steiner United States Also dated to 1932[6][46]
Las Hurdes: Tierra Sin Pan Luis Buñuel Abel Jacquin, Alexandre O'Neill Spain Documentary, co-written by Buñuel and Surrealist poet Pierre Unik, with music by Darius Milhaud
In the Icy Wastes of Dialectical Materialism Luis Buñuel, Charles de Noailles France Re-edited section of L'age d'or, rendered as comedy and shown in leftist theaters in Eastern Europe; lost.[47]
Lot in Sodom , Melville Webber Friedrich Haak, Hildegarde Watson United States Experimental short based on Biblical story[48]
Mr. Motorboat's Last Stand John Flory, Theodore Huff Leonard Stirrup United States Satire[6][43]
On the Sunny Side Vladislav Vančura Filip Balek-Brodský, Hana Bečková Czechoslovakia Didactic feature film[33][49]
Une nuit sur le mont chauve Alexandre Alexieff, Claire Parker France First pinscreen animation, also dated to 1934, 1931[50]
Oil—A Symphony in Motion M.G. MacPherson, Jean Michelson United States Only extant Artkino production[6][35]
Oramunde Emlen Etting Caresse Crosby, Mary Binney Montgomery United States Dance film[35][51]
Poslovi konzula Dorgena (Consul Dorgen's Business) Oktavijan Miletić Šime Marov, Ivan Alpi-Rauch Yugoslavia Experimental dramatic short; won a prize awarded by Louis Lumière[52][53]
Prostoy sluchay (A Simple Case) Vsevolod Pudovkin Aleksandr Baturin, Mariya Belousova Soviet Union Naturalist drama, begun in 1931; silent[54]
Pueblo Seymour Stern United States Experimental documentary; never finished, Lost film[25]
Synchromy Mary Ellen Bute, Lewis Jacobs, Joseph Schillinger United States Abstract animation, never completed[55]
Tilly Losch in the Dance of Her Hands Norman Bel Geddes Tilly Losch United States Dance film, dated 1930-33[35]
The Earth Sings Karel Plicka, Alexandr Hackenschmied Czechoslovakia Experimentally edited ethnographic semi-documentary, with music score[4]
Zéro de conduite Jean Vigo France
1934
Atoms of Eternity Čeněk Zahradníček Czechoslovakia
Beyond This Open Road B. Vivian Braun United Kingdom
Café Universal Ralph Steiner United States Satire featuring members of The Group Theatre[6]
Camera Makes Whoopee Norman McLaren United Kingdom Amateur film; montage experiments[56]
La Joie de vivre Anthony Gross, Hector Hoppin France Stylized, surreal animated film[57]
The Furies Slavko Vorkapich United States Surreal special effects insert for feature, "Crime without Passion"[58]
Hands Ralph Steiner, Willard Van Dyke United States Sponsored by the Works Project Administration; also dated 1936-7 and edited into later films[59][14]
Happiness (1935 film) Aleksandr Medvedkin Petr Zinoviev, Elena Egorova Soviet Union Soviet satire; stylized, silent[60]
The Hearts of Age William Vance, Orson Welles Virginia Nicolson, Orson Welles United States Amateur experimental film, made at the Todd School, Chicago[35]
Kreise (Circles) Oskar Fischinger Weimar Republic Abstract animation, exists in two versions, color[15]
Liebesspiel Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract animation, first exhibited posthumously; silent[15]
Man of Aran Robert J. Flaherty Ireland Fictionalised documentary
Marijka nevěrnice (Faithless Maritza) Vladislav Vančura Hana Maria Pravda Czechoslovakia Semi-experimental feature[33][61]
Muratti Greift Ein (Muratti Gets in the Act) Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Dancing cigarette animation, Gasparcolor[15]
Prisoner Roman Freulich George Sari, Jack Rockwell United States Expressionistic short, made in Hollywood, lost film[6]
Quadrate (Squares) Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract animation, silent, Gasparcolor[15]
Rhythm in Light Mary Ellen Bute United States Abstract animation[62]
Ein Spiel in Farben (A Play in Colors) Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract animation, a.k.a. Studie No. 11a, color[15]
Studie Nr. 13 (Coriolan Fragment) Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract animation, unfinished[15]
Sweet Land of Liberty Leo Hurwitz United States Satirical documentary; Lost film[63]
Žijeme v Praze (We Live in Prague) Otakar Vávra Czechoslovakia City film[64]
1935
A Colour Box Len Lye United Kingdom
Colour Cocktail Norman McLaren United Kingdom Abstract animation; lost film[65]
Ghost Town: The Story of Fort Lee Theodore Huff, Mark Borgatte United States Semi-documentary[23]
Gypsy Night Josef Berne, Harold Hecht United States Musical short, set in a Gypsy camp, color[66]
The Hands on Tuesday Čeněk Zahradníček Czechoslovakia [67][33]
Hollywood Vic Kandel, Robert Del Duca United States Satire, Lost film[63]
Kinetic Molpai Ted Shawn Ted Shawn and his Men Dancers United States Modern dance film[68]
Komposition in Blau (Composition in Blue) Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract animation in Gasparcolour[15]
November Otakar Vávra, Alexandr Hackenschmied Czechoslovakia [69][33]
Muratti Privat Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Dancing cigarette animation, black and white[15]
Pie in the Sky Ralph Steiner, Elia Kazan, Molly Day Thatcher, Irving Lerner Elia Kazan, Russell Collins United States Satire[70]
Pink Guards On Parade Oskar Fischinger Nazi Germany Abstract advertisement, Gasparcolor, unfinished; recreation on video made in 2000 by William Moritz[15]
Poison Man Ray Man Ray, Meret Oppenheim France Double "portrait" film of Ray and Oppenheim[71]
Polychrome Phantasy Norman McLaren Canada Abstract animation, color[72]
Synchromy No. 2 Mary Ellen Bute, Ted Nemeth United States Abstract animation[73]
Zwarcie (Short Circuit) Stefan Themerson, Franciszka Themerson Poland Abstract animation, music by Witold Lutoslawski, Lost[3]
1936
145 W 21 Rudy Burckhardt Paul Bowles, Aaron Copland United States [74]
The Birth of the Robot Len Lye United Kingdom
Black and White Rhapsody Martin Frič Czechoslovakia City film[33]
Dada Mary Ellen Bute, produced by Ted Nemeth United States Abstract animation, black and white[75]
Hell Unlimited Helen Biggar, Norman McLaren United Kingdom Anti-war political short[76]
The New Architecture and the London Zoo László Moholy-Nagy United Kingdom
Redes Emilio Gómez Muriel, Fred Zinnemann Silvio Hernández, Rafael Hinojosa Mexico Cinematography by Paul Strand, music by Silvestre Revueltas; Eisenstein-influenced revolutionary film[77]
Rose Hobart Joseph Cornell Rose Hobart United States Collage film[78]
1937
Even—As You and I LeRoy Robbins, Harry Hay Hy Hirsh United States
Escape Mary Ellen Bute, produced by Ted Nemeth United States Abstract animation, color[79]
Monsieur Fantômas Ernst Moerman Belgium
An Optical Poem Oskar Fischinger United States Abstract animation, distributed by MGM, color[15]
Parabola Mary Ellen Bute, Ted Nemeth, Bill Nemeth, Rutherford Boyd United States Abstract animation[80]
Przygoda Czlowieka Poczciwego (The Adventure of a Good Citizen) Stefan Themerson, Franciszka Themerson Poland Satire[3]
Seeing the World No. 1: A Trip to New York CIty Rudy Burckhardt United States City film[10]
Silnice spívá (The Highway Sings) Elmar Klos, Alexandr Hackenschmied Czechoslovakia Experimental advertising film[4]
1938
Bookstalls Joseph Cornell United States Collage film, title added posthumously; Silent[10][81]
Carousel: Animal Opera Joseph Cornell United States Collage film[10]
The Children's Jury Joseph Cornell United States Collage film, Silent[10]
The Children's Trilogy: Cotillion, The Midnight Party, The Children's Party Joseph Cornell United States Collage film, put into a final form by Larry Jordan ca. 1967-70, Silent[10]
Family Film José Val del Omar Spain
Fragment from Caroland's Mansion Frank Stauffacher United States [82]
Jack's Dream Joseph Cornell United States Collage film, put into a final form by Larry Jordan ca. 1970[10]
N or NW Len Lye United Kingdom
Thimble Theater Joseph Cornell United States Collage film, title added posthumously; Silent[10]
Tree Trunk to Head Lewis Jacobs Chaim Gross United States Semi-documentary, silent[83]
1939
The City Ralph Steiner, Willard Van Dyke United States City film for New York World's Fair, written by Pare Lorentz[84]
Dance of the Colors Hans Fischinger Germany Abstract animation, color[15]
Haiti Rudy Burckhardt United States [85]
Love on the Wing Norman McLaren United Kingdom Abstract animation, color[86]
Scherzo Norman McLaren United Kingdom Abstract animation, color[87]
Spare Time Humphrey Jennings United Kingdom Short documentary about British people at leisure, inspired by Mass Observation
Spook Sport Mary Ellen Bute, Ted Nemeth, Norman McLaren United States Abstract animation, color, animation by McLaren[88]
Stars and Stripes Norman McLaren United Kingdom Abstract animation, color[87]
Time in the Sun Marie Seton United Kingdom Composite film, made of footage shot by Sergei Eisenstein for Qué vivá México![89]

References[]

  • Jan Christopher Horak, ed. Lovers of Cinema: The First American Avant-Garde, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison WI 1995
  • Paul Rotha and Roger Manvell, "Movie Parade: A Pictorial Survey of the Cinema" London: The Studio, 1936
  • Parker Tyler, "Underground Film: A Critical History" New York: Da Capo Press, 1995 (originally published in 1969)
  • David Curtis, "Experimental Cinema" New York: Universe Books, 1970
  • Bruce Posner, ed. Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant-Garde Film, Black Thistle Press/Anthology Film Archives, NYC 2001
  1. ^ imdb entry
  2. ^ DVD Savant review of "Le fin du monde"
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Themerson Archive Filmography
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Monoskop Hackenschmied bio
  5. ^ imdb entry
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Jan Christopher Horak, ed. Lovers of Cinema: The First American Avant-Garde, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison WI 1995
  7. ^ imdb entry
  8. ^ Crying for the Carolines (1930)
  9. ^ imdb entry
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Unseen Cinema Program
  11. ^ imdb entry
  12. ^ imdb entry
  13. ^ imdb entry
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Bruce Posner, ed. Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant-Garde Film, Black Thistle Press/Anthology Film Archives, NYC 2001
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s [Moritz, William. Optical Poetry, filmography]
  16. ^ BAM/PFA Film Program Archived 2013-07-07 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ imdb entry
  18. ^ Jesse Shapins, "Walter Ruttmann's Weekend" Archived 2011-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ Hans Koert -- "Yamekraw: Rhapsody in Black and White
  20. ^ Jennifer Fleeger -- Sounding American: Hollywood, Opera and Jazz. Oxford University Press, Oxford/New York, 2014 ppg. 44-51
  21. ^ Richard Koszarski -- Hollywood on the Hudson: Film and Television in New York from Griffith to Sarnoff. Rutgers University Press, Piscataway, NJ 2008, ppg. 155-159
  22. ^ imdb entry
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b Unseen Cinema program
  24. ^ imdb entry
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b c Ira H. Gallen, Seymour Stern: American Film Critic, Guardian and Prophet SEYMOUR STERN: AMERICAN FILM CRITIC, GUARDIAN and PROPHET by D.W. GRIFFITH - DIRECTOR on Myspace
  26. ^ imdb entry
  27. ^ William Drew, "Mário Peixoto"
  28. ^ imdb entry
  29. ^ The Art of Memory
  30. ^ imdb entry
  31. ^ imdb entry The Light Penetrates the Dark (1931)
  32. ^ imdb entry
  33. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Peter Hames: Czech and Slovak Cinema: Theme and Tradition, Edinburgh University Press, 2009
  34. ^ imdb entry
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Unseen Cinema program
  36. ^ Lewis Jacobs, Experimental Cinema in America Part One: 1921-1941, Hollywood Quarterly Vol.3 No. 2, Winter 1947-48
  37. ^ imdb entry
  38. ^ imdb entry
  39. ^ imdb entry
  40. ^ Herman G. Weinberg, Unanswered Question: Eisenstein's Qué vivá México! in Bruce Posner, ed. Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant-Garde Film, Black Thistle Press/Anthology Film Archives, NYC 2001
  41. ^ 7 Till 5 (1933)
  42. ^ imdb entry
  43. ^ Jump up to: a b imdb entry
  44. ^ Soviet Films blog
  45. ^ imdb entry
  46. ^ First Light: Steiner
  47. ^ Allmovie review of "L'Age d'or"
  48. ^ imdb entry
  49. ^ imdb entry
  50. ^ imdb entry
  51. ^ imdb entry
  52. ^ Europa film treasures Archived 2013-01-04 at the Wayback Machine
  53. ^ imdb entry
  54. ^ Soviet Films blog
  55. ^ imdb entry
  56. ^ imdb entry
  57. ^ La Joie de Vivre - 1934 - Europa Film Treasures Archived 2012-10-21 at the Wayback Machine
  58. ^ Unseen Cinema on DVD
  59. ^ NARA entry
  60. ^ Russian Film Symposium essay
  61. ^ imdb entry
  62. ^ imdb entry
  63. ^ Jump up to: a b Film and Photo League Filmography
  64. ^ Monoskop Vávra bio
  65. ^ imdb entry
  66. ^ imdb entry
  67. ^ [1]
  68. ^ 100 Dance Treasures: Ted Shawn
  69. ^ Vávra Monoskop Bio
  70. ^ imdb entry
  71. ^ Ikono: "Man Ray Three Short Films and a documentary Archived 2014-01-31 at the Wayback Machine
  72. ^ imdb entry
  73. ^ imdb entry
  74. ^ Rudy Burckhardt Films DVD
  75. ^ Bute Research site at CVM
  76. ^ imdb entry
  77. ^ Criterion Collection, "Redes"
  78. ^ Senses of Cinema essay
  79. ^ Bute research site at CVM
  80. ^ imdb entry
  81. ^ John C. Film Notes Blog
  82. ^ Unseen Cinema program #11
  83. ^ imdb entry
  84. ^ imdb entry
  85. ^ Richard Bartone, "Notes on Four Films by Rudolph Burckhardt"
  86. ^ imdb entry
  87. ^ Jump up to: a b imdb entry
  88. ^ Bute Research site at CVM
  89. ^ "Movie Review - - THE SCREEN; 'Time in the Sun,' a Documentary of Mexico, Based on Eisenstein's Material, at the Fifth Avenue - NYTimes.com". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
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