Documentary Studies

Call Northside 777 and Monster are both great films. Both these films are of dramatized documentary that are centered on murder and the United States legal system. Though, both film these films are based on true events they employ the Hollywood convention of narrative story telling. Differences between these films are Call Northside 777 is a story surrounding a man who was wrongfully accused of slaying a police officer in a speakeasy during the prohibition era of American history. The movie Monster follows the life of a middle aged prostitute who becomes a murderous serial killer while befriending and falling in love with a young girl.

Call Northside 777 and Monster both take actual events and dramatize them for entertainment purposes. This is what the film industry calls a Docudrama. In the movie Call Northside 777 director Henry Hathaway, in the opening scene, makes refrence to crime stimulating from prohibition in Chicago. He also uses a news reel to give this film an authentic feel. He then changes from the news reel to Hollywood style of composition of film. The voice over within the opening title gives the film a sense of urgency. Hathaway takes actual events of a wrongly accused man and shapes a story around the history of crime and the injustices of the judicial system in Chicago. He also employs the power of technology. But, along with showing the injustices Hathaway reiterates the belief in the justice system when the wrongfully accused man is released due to new technology.

The movie Monster Directed by Patty Jenkins is a true masterpiece. The power of recreation and voice over sets the tone for this film. In this film Charlize Theron plays Alleen Wuronos a prostitute turn serial killer who falls in love with a young girl. This film is based on true events. Throughout this film it is portrayed that Allen just has bad luck, nothing has ever worked out for her, until she meets a younger girl whom she falls in love with. Unable to take care of both herself and the young girl Alleen returns to a life of prostitution and eventually a murderous killing streak. Alleens' story is tragic but the narrative conventions and recreation makes this a must see film.

In conclusion a docudrama is a film based on facts derived from investigation and research. Both of these films are dramatized documentaries and both are based on true events. The dangers of this film genre is not being able to get the story exactly right or offending persons involved within the story living or dead. Although there are dangers it in attempting to recreate stories such as these the director still has an obligation of entertaining the audience.

Both Robert Flaherty and John Grierson were film makers and pioneers of the film genre "documentary". They both have similarities and differences. These two men can be considered the fathers of documentary film making. John Grierson was influenced by Robert Flaherty and wanted to use documentary film making to educate society and its people to make the world a better place. His works were more political. He considered himself a propagandist. He had hopes that his films would be able to show people flaws and insight to make democracy work. The production of Griersons films relied on support from government and other various agencies. John Grierson worked outside of the commercial film industry and made films for corporate institutions. Grierson focused more on film makers rather than making films. He sought out to educate young filmmakers. When making films Grierson had a specific purpose for the production of his films he was a teacher and a theorist.

Robert Flaherty's approach to film making reflected the exploration and storytelling aspects of film making rather than trying to change society. Flaherty as well wanted to educate people but he focused more on cultures, different societies' way of life, traditions, and societies struggles in regard to nature. Flaherty wanted to explore the truths of societies' unknown amongst American public. In his films he used a pattern of using similar motifs to tell a story of dissimilar people in dissimilar places.

Roberty Flaherty was more of an artist his films were not preconceived while Grierson wanted to raise awareness among society in order to promote democracy. Flaherty's priorities were on creating images that would portray the old