October Sun Films

The Academy Awards instituted a Documentary category in 1942, and then divided it into two categories the next year (Feature and Short Film). If you’ve never watched a documentary before, you could do much worse than to start with these. On the other hand, if you have always enjoyed nonfiction film, here’s a chance to see how the genre got its start. Here we highlight a film from each decade that wowed the committee with its honesty, beauty, and power.1943 Desert Victory: The first film to win the new Documentary Feature award captured the violence of the war which was now engulfing America. Produced by the British Ministry of Information, it chronicles the North African campaign against Erwin Rommel.1953 The Living Desert: Ten years later, a desert film of a different sort took the trophy. Living Desert took a close look at the wildlife of the American Southwest. Disney approved the film after seeing footage of a battle between a wasp and tarantula.1963 Robert Frost: A Lover’s Quarrel With the World: Released the year of his death and sharing a title with his epitaph, this film combines public appearances by the poet with intimate interviews, critical studies, and images of home life.1973 The Great American Cowboy: This film, released four years after Midnight Cowboy, is about two rodeo stars (Larry Mahan and Phil Lyne) competing for a world championship.1983 He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin’: Perhaps one of the lightest documentary films to win the Oscar, Dancin’ is a portrait of Jacques D’Amboise. Amboise danced in the films Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Carousel, and founded the National Dance Institute in 1976.1993 I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School: This film focuses on the serious issues of poverty and education which affect inner-city children. Principal Deanna Burney helps navigate meager resources and staff to offer these children a future they wouldn’t otherwise have.2003 The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara: Instead of doing a documentary about the conflict in Iraq, Errol Morris made a biographical film about the U.S. Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War.2013 Who knows? It could be yours!