American Romantic Tradition
The American romantic tradition contributed to one of the earliest and strongest conventions in nonfiction filmmaking, and also one of the most popular. The early nonfiction film was frequently romantic in its essential idealization of nature and overriding preoccupation with exploring man’s proper relation-ship to the world around him. Many of these films use natural scenery and surroundings for their own sake and are concerned with conservation, demonstrating an early awareness of the need for ecological balance in a world growing more urbanized and industrialized with each passing year. The narrative generally emerges from the situation rather than from being imposed upon the material.
Robert Flaherty (1884–1951) shooting his last documentary masterpiece "Louisiana Story" (a lyrical tribute to the Louisiana bayous and the Cajun people, descendants of French settlers) which was nominated for an Oscar and awarded the Pulitzer Prize for its musical score.
The American romantic approach afforded filmmakers the opportunity to investigate and glorify the American West. Indeed, throughout its history, the American nonfiction film movement has been extremely active in capturing nature not only in the West, but throughout America and around the world. Of all the early travel and exploration films, the first important American travel films were brought back from expeditions by Robert Flaherty, Merian C. Cooper, and Ernest Schoedsack.
SOURCES:
Richard M. Barsam. Non-fiction Film. A Critical History. S. 46