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The Examination

Die Prüfung (The Examination) (1952) is an East German documentary directed by Andrew Thorndike. Running at approximately 35 minutes, the film focuses on the reconstruction of schools in rural East Germany and the implementation of democratic educational reforms. It highlights the educational experiences of children in towns like Ducherow and Dessau, along with the significance of the "Day of the Teacher" in the GDR. Produced by the DEFA Studio für Wochenschau und Dokumentarfilme, the film underscores the importance of education and the teaching profession in shaping the new socialist state.

The Examination

NR 1952
Robert E. Lee: A Background Study

Robert E. Lee, born in Virginia in 1807, was deeply influenced by his Southern heritage and the legacy of his family, particularly his father, who served in the American Revolution. Raised by his mother, Lee learned values of self-control and integrity. He graduated second in his class from the United States Military Academy and had a distinguished military career, serving the Union before the Civil War. Despite his opposition to secession, he chose to lead the Confederate Army when Virginia seceded. Lee's military strategies were notable, achieving significant victories, yet he faced ultimate defeat at Gettysburg. After the war, he became president of Washington College, promoting peace and reconciliation while embodying principles of integrity and duty.

Robert E. Lee: A Background Study

NR 1953
The Titan: Story of Michelangelo

The life and works of the great artist Michelangelo Buonarroti are shown against the historical background of his time. It begins with his earliest artworks, and follows his life and career as he achieves lasting fame. The documentary includes detailed looks at some of the artist's most renowned creations. American heavily re-edited version of the Swiss 1938 film Michelangelo: Das Leben eines Titanen, with new footage shot by Robert J. Flaherty added. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2005.

The Titan: Story of Michelangelo

6.2 1950
The Unconquered

Narrated by actress Katharine Cornell and filmed in black and white, it spends the first 24 minutes introducing viewers, through newsreels, interviews, and old photographs, to the story of the deaf and blind disabled-rights pioneer. News footage shows her international appearances and visits with heads of state, including President Eisenhower allowing her to feel his face. The second half takes a day-in-the-(exceptional)-life approach to Keller's existence circa 1955. Made just 13 years before her death, Keller's famed tutor-translator-friend Anne Sullivan had already died, leaving her live-in replacement, Polly Thomson, to share the film's focus. From the time Keller takes her morning walk along the 1,000-foot handrail around her yard through her workday to her nightly reading of her Braille Bible, her serene acceptance of her life will amaze and inspire. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2006.

The Unconquered

7.4 1954
In the Shadow of Karakorum

In 1954, a German-Austrian expedition led by Mathias Rebitsch set off for the difficult-to-access Karakoram Mountains, geographically north of the Himalayas. They come across the Hunza, a people who live in the valley of the same name and believe they are descended from the soldiers of Alexander the Great. The documentary conveys impressions of the poor life of the Hunza people, the harvest, a court hearing, festivals and the children's everyday school life. Finally, the expedition sets off again and sets up its main camp on the moraine ridge of a glacier, where they measure the glacier and the earth's magnetic field. Finally, some men from the research community set off for a sub-peak of Batura.

In the Shadow of Karakorum

9.0 1955
District Nurse

District Nurse documents the daily work of two community nurses serving a rural district in East Sussex, following their rounds across farms, villages, and isolated homes. The film records home-based medical care, patient instruction, emergency response, and maternal health services, situating nursing practice within the rhythms of rural life. Produced in the early years of Britain’s National Health Service, the film presents community healthcare as a foundational element of postwar social welfare and public service.

District Nurse

NR 1952