PARE LORENTZ And The Documentary Film. Inscribed by Pare Lorentz

Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1968. First edition. Hardcover. A near fine sharp copy of the book bound in brown cloth with black and white stamping to the spine, in a very good clean dust jacket with a chip to the top of the rear spine fold. Inscribed by Pare Lorentz to Harris Liechti founder of the International Film Series on the front endpaper. "To Harris / Best Wishes for more / high low comedy / (signed) Pare Lorentz / Oshkosh, November 23, 1971." Ownership signature of Harris Liechti above the inscription. ALS laid in from William Sloan to Mr. Leichti, dated October 27, 1969 on 'Film Library Information Council' letterhead, reads, " Dear Mr. Leichti / Your fine review of the / Lorentz book is on p.53 of the / Film Library Quarterly which is / just out today. Please send me / your exact address and I'll see / that we get a copy of the book to you. / Also, we'd be happy to have you / review for us whenever you have the / time to take it on. You can have / more copies of the FLQ if you wish." Sincerely, (signed) William Sloan." In the book, these three titles, The Plow That Broke the Plains, The River, and The Fight for Life, have special significance in the history of motion pictures. They are three of the great documentaries produced by Pare Lorentz in the 1930's for the United States government. Except for some training films vintage World War 1, they were the first films the government made for the general public. In the depths of the Depression, the government decided to produce a series of films about the pressing problems facing the nation; drought, flood, poverty, and slums. With an initial budget of $6000. and a young director who had never made a motion picture, the beginnings were anything but auspicious. The results, however, were sensational. 232 pages with index and appendices. Illustrated from photographs. The author dedicated the book to Pare Lorentz.