Technicolor Specials (Warner Bros. series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Technicolor Special was a common term used for Hollywood studio produced color short films of the 1930s and 1940s that did not belong to a specified series (as marketed in the trade periodicals).

With the Warner Brothers studio, the key word "special" was applied to those color live-action shorts that ran two reels or roughly 20 minutes in length. Those running longer were dubbed Warner Featurettes. Other series names used occasionally were "Technicolor Broadway Brevities" (briefly in the '30s[1]) and "Technicolor Miniatures" (for a pair of ballet performances filmed in 1941[2]).

Overview[edit]

Warner Brothers distinguished their two-reel Technicolor Specials from their many shorter color films, running under ten minutes (or one reel) in length. These included the animated Merrie Melodies and later Looney Tunes, Vitaphone Varieties (in color from 1929–30), E. M. Newman "Colortours", Vitaphone Color Parade, Sports Parade, Technicolor Adventures and Scope Gems, the last series occasionally running longer but distinguished by its use of CinemaScope.

Combined, the studio was able to supply theater owners with enough color short subjects practically on a weekly or bi-weekly basis by the end of the thirties. In fact, only one or two feature films needed to be shot annually in color during the years 1940–47 since there was more than enough presented as "extras" before the main feature attraction.[3] At a time when the studio stopped making features in color, four back-to-back two-reel musicals (over 70 minutes' worth) were made in Burbank, California in the autumn of 1933, with Eddie Cline supervising almost as if he was making a feature film.[4]

1934's Service with a Smile was the first shot in the full Technicolor. Previously a more primitive 2-strip system was used. Two decades later, these were processed under the studio's own Warnercolor system and occasionally dubbed "Warnercolor Specials".

The studio was particularly successful with some recreations of American history during the years 1936–1940, the first being Song of a Nation with Donald Woods playing Francis Scott Key. These kept the costume and set design departments busy and provided major stars like Claude Rains alternative projects to exercise, develop or diversify their acting skills between features. Another sub-series dramatized young men and women (again played by actors on the studio payroll) involved in the different military branches. Such titles as Service with the Colors helped prepare movie-goers for the inevitable conflict overseas and encouraged enlistment. Both series provided enough stock footage for later history lessons like March on America! (stretching from the pilgrim landing on Plymouth Rock through the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor) and My Country 'Tis of Thee (reusing much of the same footage, but continuing through the war years thanks to recent additions like Beachhead to Berlin).

Likewise, the ambitious mini-musicals of the thirties allowed similar recycling for a trio of forties titles: Musical Movieland, Movieland Magic and Hollywood Wonderland. These only required a "framing scene" with a tour guide showing Hollywood visitors films in production. The production numbers shown were lifted from earlier shorts like Swingtime in the Movies.[5]

By 1942, an increasing number of these were documentary and travelogue subjects. Among the most notable from the post-war crop were a pair of prestigious India travelogues, Soap Box Derby (the first of many trips to the mini-car races in Ohio), Down the Nile (showcasing Egypt post-war), Jungle Terror (covering Hassoldt Davis and his wife's Amazon adventure), The Seeing Eye (covering the Morristown, New Jersey training of dogs for the handicapped), Winter Paradise (John Jay's ski adventure down the Austrian slopes), Thar She Blows! (aboard a whaling ship) and some well-liked scenic tours of Europe filmed by André de la Varre. Edgar Bergen appeared in a comic-travelogue Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd in Sweden; its director Larry Lansburgh supplied a number of outdoor and animal interest documentary shorts for both Warner Bros. and Walt Disney in the fifties including some Oscar winners.

The later documentaries also benefited greatly from energetic narration (i.e. Marvin Miller also voiced popular radio shows and animated cartoons of the period) and orchestra scores that only a major film studio could provide. Not surprisingly, they continued to do well annually at awards time, with Warner Brothers eventually surpassing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the number of short subject Academy Awards and nominations. Making the Motion Picture Herald lists of top ten money making shorts in 1944-45,[6] the best titles enjoyed a second life as reissues in theaters along with Warner's newer features and shorts, from the mid-'40s through 1967.

List of titles[edit]

A full list is provided below, arranged by the year of release (but not necessarily the year filmed). Sometimes a date reviewed by The Film Daily or a copyright date is listed.[7] All run 16 to 22 minutes unless otherwise noted. Since Howard Jackson handled the majority of music scores after 1934, only the William Lava solo efforts are indicated.[8] Gordon Hollingshead produced many titles from Moroccan Nights through Thar She Blows. Cedric Francis took over a key producer in charge after Hollingshead's passing in 1952.

1932-1934 (2-strip system)[edit]

Title Major credits Release, copyright or review date
C'est Paree Roy Mack July 23, 1932 (Film Daily review)
Pickin' a Winner (Pick a Winner) Roy Mack August 23, 1932 (preview)
Northern Exposure Roy Mack; Snub Pollard & Sheila Terry August 23, 1932 (preview)
Hey! Hey! Westerner Roy Mack; Eddie Nugent August 23, 1932 (preview)
Tee for Two Roy Mack; Franklin Pangborn, Esther Howard, Helen Lynd & Eddie Kane August 31, 1932 (Film Daily review)
Pleasure Island Roy Mack; Tom Dugan, Richard Powell, Neely Edwards, Hank Mann, Winona Love & Maxine Lewis October 3, 1932 (Film Daily review)
'Tis Spring John Francis Dillon (director); Hugh Herbert © October 28, 1933
Morocco Nights Eddie Cline (director); Fuzzy Knight, Shirley Ross, Teddy Wolf Orchestra & others January 6, 1934
Girl Trouble Eddie Cline (director); Mitchell & Durant © March 1, 1934
Not Tonight, Josephine Eddie Cline (director); Frank McHugh, Kitty Kelly & others © March 2, 1934
Business Is a Pleasure Eddie Cline (director); Teddy Joyce, Betty Grable, Hobart Cavanaugh & Robert Agnew © March 17, 1934

1930s (full color)[edit]

Title Major credits Release, copyright or review date Notes
Service with a Smile Roy Mack; Leon Errol, Maxine Doyle, Herbert Evans, Marie Wells & Billy Bletcher July 25, 1934 (preview) Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
Good Morning, Eve Roy Mack; Leon Errol, June MacCloy, Vernon Dent, Maxine Doyle August 5, 1934 Dames & Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
What, No Men! Ralph Staub (director); El Brendel, Phil Regan & Winifred Shaw August 22, 1934 (preview) Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
Show Kids Ralph Staub (director); Arthur Aylesworth, Florence Fair & the Meglin Kiddies January 5, 1935 The Gay Divorcee (Greatest Classic Films Astaire & Rogers 1) DVD
Gypsy Sweetheart Ralph Staub (director); Margaret Dumont, Winifred Shaw, Phillip Reed & Eddie Shubert March 30, 1935 Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
Springtime in Holland Ralph Staub (director); Hobart Cavanaugh, Dorothy Dare, Al Shean & Felix Knight June 22, 1935
Romance of the West Ralph Staub (director); Phil Regan, Bob Nolan, Henry Armetta & Mary Treen August 3, 1935
Reg'lar Kids Ralph Staub (director); Famous Meglin Kiddies October 19, 1935
Okay, José Ralph Staub (director); El Brendel, Julian Riviero, Alberto Sergio & Joan Woodbury December 7, 1935 Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
Carnival Day Ralph Staub (director); Henry Armetta, Felix Knight & Joan Barclay January 11, 1936 Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
King of the Islands Ralph Staub (director); Winifred Shaw, Warren Hymer & Edward McWade February 22, 1936 Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
Changing of the Guard Bobby Connolly (director); Sybil Jason May 13, 1936 (preview) Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
Song of a Nation Frank MacDonald (director); Donald Woods, Clare Dodd & Carlyle Moore, Jr. June 12, 1936 (BoxOffice review date)
The Sunday Roundup William Clemens (film director); Dick Foran, Jane Wyman, Linda Perry & others July 10, 1936 Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
Echo Mountain Ralph Staub (director); Fred Laurence & Rosalind Marquis October 30, 1936 Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
Give Me Liberty B. Reeves Eason (director); story: Forrest Barnes; John Litel, Robert Warwick, Nedda Harrington & others December 3, 1936 (preview) Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936 film) DVD
Under Southern Stars Nick Grinde (director); Fred Laurence, Jane Bryan, Fritz Leiber, Sr. & others February 20, 1937 Black Legion (film) DVD
The Romance of Robert Burns Crane Wilbur (director); Owen King, Linda Mason & Marcia Ralston April 10, 1937 Hollywood Hotel (film) DVD
A Day at Santa Anita Bobby Connolly (director); Sybil Jason, Marcia Ralston, Matthew Beard, Bette Davis, Ruby Keeler, Al Jolson, Edward G. Robinson, Olivia de Havilland & others May 22, 1937 The Jazz Singer & Each Dawn I Die (Greatest Gangster Films James Cagney) DVD
Romance of Louisiana Crane Wilbur (director); Erville Anderson, Addison Richards & Suzanne Kaaren July 8, 1937 Gold Diggers of 1937 DVD
Little Pioneer Bobby Connolly (director); Sybil Jason, Jane Wyman, Carlyle Moore Jr. & others July 31, 1937
The Littlest Diplomat Bobby Connolly (director); Sybil Jason & Lumsden Hare September 18, 1937 The Life of Emile Zola DVD
The Man Without a Country Crane Wilbur (director); John Litel, Ted Osborne, Gloria Holden & Holmes Herbert November 27, 1937 Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. San Quentin (1937 film) DVD
Romance Road Bobby Connolly (director); Walter Cassell, Anne Nagel & others January 26, 1938 The Dawn Patrol (1938 film), The Life of Emile Zola & Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
Out Where the Stars Begin Bobby Connolly (director); Fritz Field, Evelyn Thaw, Armida (actress), Jeffrey Lynn, Pat O'Brien, Ann Sheridan & others May 14, 1938 Angels with Dirty Faces & Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
Sons of the Plains Crane Wilbur (director); Billy and Bobby Mauch July 30, 1938
Campus Cinderella Noel M. Smith (director); Penny Singleton, Johnnie Davis, Anthony Averill & Oscar O'Shea September 17, 1938 Bringing Up Baby (2-disc) DVD
Declaration of Independence Crane Wilbur (director); Charles Tedford (story); (Ted Osborne), John Litel, Walter Walker, Rosella Towne, Owen King & Richard Bond November 26, 1938 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, A Slight Case of Murder DVD
Swingtime in the Movies Crane Wilbur (director); Fritz Feld, Katherine Kane, Jerry Colonna, Humphrey Bogart, George Brent, the Dead End Boys, John Garfield, Priscilla Lane & others December 26, 1938 Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, They Drive by Night (Classic Legends Humphrey Bogart) DVD
Lincoln in the White House William McGann (director); Frank McGlynn, Sr., Dickie Moore, John Harron & others January 13, 1939 (preview) The Old Maid (1939 film) DVD
Sons of Liberty Michael Curtiz & Crane Wilbur (directors); Claude Rains, Gale Sondergaard, Donald Crisp & Montagu Love May 20, 1939 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, Dodge City (1939 film) DVD
The Right Way Crane Wilbur (director); Gabriel Dell June 26, 1939
Quiet, Please Crane Wilbur (director); Fritz Feld, Charles Foy, Larry Williams, Tom Kennedy & Katherine Kane July 1, 1939 Invisible Stripes DVD
The Bill of Rights Crane Wilbur (director); Ted Osborne, Vernon Steele, Moroni Olsen & Leonard Mudie August 19, 1939 Allegheny Uprising (John Wayne Collection) DVD
Ride, Cowboy, Ride George Amy (director); Dennis Morgan, Cliff Edwards, Maris Wrixon & George Reeves September 9, 1939
The Monroe Doctrine Crane Wilbur (director); Grant Mitchell, Charles Waldron, Sidney Blackmer, Nanette Fabray, George Reeves & James Stephenson October 21, 1939 Invisible Stripes DVD
The Royal Rodeo George Amy (director); story: Owen Crump; Cliff Edwards, Scotty Beckett & John Payne November 25, 1939 The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex DVD
Old Hickory Lewis Seiler (director); story: Owen Crump; Hugh Sothern, Nana Bryant & Victor Kilian December 23, 1939 Dark Victory Blu-ray

1940s[edit]

Title Major credits Release or copyright date Notes
Teddy, the Rough Rider Ray Enright (director); Sidney Blackmer, Pierre Watkin & Theodore von Eltz February 24, 1940 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, Knute Rockne, All American DVD
The Singing Dude William C. McGann (director); Dennis Morgan, Lucile Fairbanks & Fuzzy Knight April 5, 1940
Cinderella's Feller William McGann (director); Juanita Quigley, Scotty Beckett & Maris Wrixon June 8, 1940 Virginia City DVD
Pony Express Days (Wild West Days) B. Reeves Eason (director); George Reeves, David Bruce, Frank Wilcox & J. Farrell McDonald July 6, 1940 Torrid Zone DVD
Service with the Colors B. Reeves Eason (director); Owen Crump (writer); Robert Armstrong, William Lundigan, William T. Orr, Herbert Anderson & George Hayward August 31, 1940 Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, City for Conquest (Greatest Gangster Films James Cagney) DVD
The Flag of Humanity Jean Negulesco (director); Nana Bryant, Fay Helm, John Hamilton, Ted Osborne & others October 19, 1940 Virginia City (film) DVD
March On, Marines B. Reeves Eason (director); Dennis Morgan, John Litel & David Bruce December 14, 1940
Meet the Fleet B. Reeves Eason (director); story: Owen Crump; Robert Armstrong, William T. Orr, George Reeves, & Herbert Anderson December 21, 1940 All This, and Heaven Too DVD
Wings of Steel B. Reeves Eason (director); story: Owen Crump; Douglas Kennedy, Herbert Anderson, Tom Neal & Ralph Byrd April 5, 1941
Here Comes the Cavalry D. Ross Lederman (director); story: Owen Crump (writer); William Justice & Gary Owen June 28, 1941
Carnival of Rhythm Stanley Martin (director); narrator: Knox Manning; Katherine Dunham & her dance troupe August 23, 1941 Available on The Bride Came C.O.D. DVD
The Tanks Are Coming B. Reeves Eason (director); George Tobias, William Justice, Frank Wilcock & Byron Barr October 4, 1941 Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, Desperate Journey & Objective, Burma! DVD
The Gay Parisian Jean Negulesco (director); Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo December 26, 1941 "Technicolor Miniature"; Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, The Maltese Falcon DVD
Soldiers in White B. Reeves Eason (director); Owen Crump (writer); William T. Orr, John Litel & Eleanor Parker February 7, 1942 They Died with Their Boots On DVD
Spanish Fiesta Jean Negulesco (director); Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo May 16, 1942 "Technicolor Miniature" (filmed 1941); In This Our Life DVD
March on America! Owen Crump (writer); narrator: Richard Whorf May 16, 1942 In This Our Life DVD
The Pacific Frontier Frederick Richards (film editor); narrator: Raine Bennett May 23, 1942 documentary on Hawaii
The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady Jean Negulesco (director); Patty Hale, Al Shean & Peter Caldwell July 11, 1942
Men of the Sky (Under Those Wings) B. Reeves Eason (director); Owen Crump (writer); Eleanor Parker, Tod Andrews, Don DeFore & Ray Montgomery July 25, 1942 Across the Pacific DVD
A Ship Is Born First Motion Picture Unit; Jean Negulesco (director); Owen Crump (writer); music: William Lava; narrator: Knox Manning October 10, 1942
The Fighting Engineers B. Reeves Eason (director); narrator: Knox Manning; Richard Travis January 2, 1943
Young and Beautiful Will Jason (director); music: William Lava; William Haines & Elizabeth Arden (art directors); Gracie Fields, Frieda Inescort & Jinx Falkenburg March 13, 1943
Eagles of the Navy Joe Gosling April 24, 1943 filmed at Pensacola, Florida training facility
Champions Training Champions James Bloodworth (director); music: William Lava; narrator: Lou Marcelle June 26, 1943 for U.S. Navy
Mountain Fighters B. Reeves Eason (director); narrator: Lou Marcelle August 7, 1943 filmed at Camp Hale, Colorado
Women at War Jean Negulesco (director);; music: William Lava; Virginia Christine October 2, 1943 Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, Air Force (film) DVD
Behind the Big Top A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner (producers); André de la Varre (director); narrator: Art Gilmore November 27, 1943 shot in Sarasota, Florida
Task Force narrator: Jackson Beck December 11, 1943 made for the U.S. Coast Guard
Roaring Guns Jean Negulesco (director); Robert Shayne February 19, 1944 "Santa Fe Trail" series; Rocky Mountain DVD
A Night in Mexico City Augustin Delgado (director); James A. Fitzpatrick (narrator) March 25, 1944
Wells Fargo Days Mack V. Wright (director); Dennis Moore (actor) May 1, 1944 "Santa Fe Trail" series; Rocky Mountain DVD
Winner's Circle A. Pam Blumenthal & Van Campen Heilner (prodfucers); André de la Varre (director); narrator: Roger Q. Denny May 6, 1944 profiles Kentucky thoroughbreds
Trial By Trigger William C. McGann (director); Robert Shayne, Cheryl Walker, Warner Anderson, Ralph Dunn & Henry Sharp May 27, 1944 "Santa Fe Trail" series; Rocky Mountain DVD
Devil Boats A. Pam Blumenthal & André de la Varre (producers); Arnold Albert (director); music: William Lava; Warren Douglas July 22, 1944 demonstrates the production of PT boats.
Musical Movieland LeRoy Prinz September 9, 1944 Night and Day DVD
Trailin' West George Templeton (director); John Spelvin, Elaine Riley & Chill Wills October 1, 1944 "Santa Fe Trail" series
Let's Go Fishing André de la Varre (director) October 21, 1944
Beachhead to Berlin Charles Tedford (director); music: William Lava December 16, 1944 color footage of D-Day
Coney Island Honeymoon Arnold Albert (director); Warren Douglas & Angela Greene June 16, 1945 (© December 19, 1944)
America the Beautiful André de la Varre (director); story: Saul Elkins & Owen Crump (writer); music: William Lava; narrator: Truman Bradley August 4, 1945
Orders from Tokyo narrator: David Griffin August 18, 1945 filmed in the Philippines
Frontier Days Jack Scholl (director); Robert Shayne, Dorothy Malone & Rory Mallnson October 20, 1945 San Antonio (film) DVD
Hawaiian Memories John D. Craig (director) © December 27, 1945
The Forest Commandos Van Campen Heilner (producer); André de la Varre (director); music: Rex Dunn January 19, 1946 filmed in Ontario
Movieland Magic James Kern & Jack Scholl (directors); Mel Torme March 9, 1946 Deception (1946 film) DVD
Gem of the Ocean music: William Lava; narrator: Truman Bradley April 13, 1946 visits wartime Guam
South of Monterrey Sullivan C. Richardson (director); music: Rex Dunn; narrator: Truman Bradley © June 30, 1946 Mexico travelogue.
Down Singapore Way Deane H. Dickason; music: Rex Dunn July 20, 1946 tour of East Indies (Indonesia)
Men of Tomorrow Saul Elkins (director); music: William Lava; narrator: Knox Manning August 24, 1946 (© December 31, 1945); about the Boy Scouts
Sunset in the Pacific music: William Lava © December 20, 1946 wartime camermen are profiled
A Boy and His Dog LeRoy Prinz & Saul Elkins (directors); music: William Lava; Harry Davenport, Billy Shefield, Russell Simpson & Dorothy Adams December 24, 1946 (preview) Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film
Saddle Up! Luis Osorno Barona (director) March 1, 1947 covers horse sports in Mexico
Hollywood Wonderland Jack Scholl (director) August 9, 1947 (filmed April 1946); Tycoon DVD
A Day at the Fair Saul Elkins (director); narrator: Art Gilmore August 30, 1947 Covers the 1946 centennial state fair of Des Moines, Iowa where the film premiered[9]
Romance and Dance Luis Osorno Barona (director); narrator: Truman Bradley August 30, 1947 features various dances of Mexico
King of the Carnival Saul Elkins (director); narrator: Knox Manning September 11, 1947 covers a carnival in Topeka, Kansas including Carl J. Sedlmayr's Royal American Show.
Power Behind the Nation story: Saul Elkins; music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore October 11, 1947 History of American industry. Business Screen states that Carl Dudley co-produced[10]
Soap Box Derby Saul Elkins (director); music: William Lava; narrator: Knox Manning October 18, 1947 Akron, Ohio mini-car races.
Celebration Days Saul Elkins (director); narrator: Art Gilmore © December 29, 1947 covers Minneapolis Aquatennial
Calgary Stampede Saul Elkins & Herman Boxer (directors); music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore May 29, 1948 covers Stampede Week in Calgary, Alberta. Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, The Adventures of Don Juan DVD
The Man from New Orleans Luis Osorno Barona (director); music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore September 4, 1948 profiles artist William Spratling
My Own United States DeLeon Anthony (director); music: William Lava; narrator: Truman Bradley October 16, 1948
Cradle of the Republic Carl Dudley (producer/director); music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore © December 20, 1948 Overview of the New England states
Princely India Owen Crump (director/writer); music: William Lava; narrator: Lou Marcelle December 25, 1948 India travelogue
Heart of Paris Owen Crump (writer); music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore March 12, 1949
Drums of India Owen Crump (writer); music: William Lava; narrator: Truman Bradley April 15, 1949
Down the Nile Owen Crump (writer); music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore July 30, 1949 Egyptian travelogue
Jungle Terror Hassoldt Davis & Ruth Staudinger; Owen Crump (writer); music: William Lava; narrator: Martin Gabel November 5, 1949 covers a 1947-48 trip through French Guiana, additional unused footage can be found in the Smithsonian Archives.
Snow Carnival André de la Varre & Dick Durrance (directors); story: Owen Crump (writer); narrator: Gary Cooper December 17, 1949 covers skiing in Aspen, Colorado. Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film

1950s[edit]

Title Major credits Release or copyright date Notes
Women of Tomorrow George George, Francis Thompson & John Flory (director/writers); narrator: Art Gilmore March 15, 1950 (© December 31, 1949); covers Girl Scouts of the USA
Danger Is My Business Ross Allen (herpetologist); music: William Lava; narrator: Marvin Miller April 8, 1950 visiting the Everglades with a professional reptile handler
Wish You Were Here music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore July 29, 1950 tour of Florida
Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd in Sweden Larry Lansburgh (director); Edgar Bergen September 27, 1950
My Country 'Tis of Thee Owen Crump (writer); music: William Lava; narrator: Marvin Miller December 26, 1950 Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. DVD
The Wanderer's Return André de la Varre (director); story: Owen Crump (writer); narrator: Marvin Miller December 23, 1950 Tour of the new Israel
The Neighbor Next Door Owen Crump (writer); music: William Lava; narrator: Marvin Miller March 17, 1951 Tour of Canada
Stranger in the Lighthouse Larry Lansburgh (director); narrator: Art Gilmore May 5, 1951 Tale of a girl and a seal
Enchanted Islands Owen Crump & Edwin E. Olsen (directors); narrator: Art Gilmore August 4, 1951 Hawaii
Winter Sports (Winter Wonders) John Jay; narrator: Art Gilmore September 8, 1951 Ski reel
The Seeing Eye Owen Crump (directors); André de la Varre (camera); music: William Lava; narrator: Marvin Miller December 14, 1951 Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. A canine view of the New Jersey seeing eye dog institute
Land of the Trembling Earth Ted & Vincent Saizis (directors); music: William Lava; narrator: Marvin Miller January 26, 1952 covers Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp
Land of Everyday Miracles Richard L. Bare & Paul Thoma (directors); narrator: Marvin Miller March 8, 1952 American inventions and institutions
No Pets Allowed Crane Wilbur (director); Warren Douglas, Fay Bainter & others May 31, 1952
Open Up That Golden Gate Owen Crump (writer); music: William Lava; narrator: Lou Marcelle July 19, 1952 San Francisco travelogue
Killers of the Swamp André de la Varre (director); narrator: Marvin Miller September 6, 1952 Everglades alligator, rattlesnake and bobcat
Cruise of the Zaca Errol Flynn & Owen Crump (writer), Howard Hill December 6, 1952 Travels with the Zaca along Pacific and in Jamaica in 1946-47. The Adventures of Robin Hood (2-disc) DVD
Thar She Blows! D. Richard Statile (director); story: Owen Crump; music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore December 25, 1952 (preview) Five months on a whaling vessel traveling Antarctic waters. Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film
Under the Little Big Top André de la Varre (director); narrator: Art Gilmore April 25, 1953 filmed in Sarasota, Florida
America for Me Jerry Fairbanks (producer); Albert Kelly (director); Ellen Drew, Meg Randall & John Archer May 30, 1953
Where the Trade Winds Play William Whiteman (director); Owen Crump (writer); music: William Lava July 4, 1953 Tour of Polynesia, Tahiti
Gone Fishin' Charles Tedford (director); narrator: Art Gilmore September 12, 1953
North of the Sahara André de la Varre (director); script: Owen Crump; narrator: Marvin Miller November 7, 1953 Tour of Tunisia & Morocco
Don't Forget to Write André de la Varre (director); story: Owen Crump; music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore December 5, 1953 Tour of England
Winter Paradise (Alpine Safari) John Jay (director); story: Owen Crump (writer); music: William Lava; narrator: Art Gilmore December 26, 1953 skiing in Oberstdorf (Germany) and the Austrian Alps (filmed '51).[11] Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film
Hold Your Horses André de la Varre (director); story: Owen Crump (writer); narrator: Art Gilmore March 13, 1954 horse breeding in Argentina
Continental Holiday André de la Varre (director); story: Owen Crump (writer); music: William Lava; narrator: Marvin Miller April 9, 1954 European tour utilizing clips from past shorts
Silver Lightning Edgar Queeny (director); narrator: Paul Prentiss July 17, 1954 fishing reel
Who's Who in the Zoo André de la Varre (director) August 21, 1954 US and European zoos
Mariners Ahoy! Ray Jewell (director); Owen Crump (writer) September 6, 1954 girls sail the Yankee with Commander Irving M. Johnson.
In Fourteen Hundred and Ninety-two André de la Varre (director); story: Owen Crump; music: William Lava; narrator: Marvin Miller October 9, 1954 covers Puerto Rico, Haiti, Jamaica & the Dominican Republic
Where Winter Is King André de la Varre (director); narrator: Marvin Miller December 4, 1954 Austria winter sports
Beauty and the Bull Larry Lansburgh (director); narrator: Marvin Miller December 20, 1954 features bullfighter Bette Ford in Mexico. Nominee for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film
The Mississippi Traveler Carl Dudley (producer); Richard Goldstone (director); March 5, 1955 journey along the river
Wave of the Flag Carl Dudley (producer); Richard Goldstone (director) May 14, 1955 touring national monuments to American wars
The Adventures of Alexander Selkirk Jackson Winter (director); June 18, 1955 story of a real life Robinson Crusoe
Uranium Fever Tom McGowan (director); narrator: Vic Perrin July 16, 1955
Festival Days André de la Varre (director); story: Owen Crump; narrator: Marvin Miller August 13, 1955 shots of Germany, Austria and Italy
The Golden Tomorrow André de la Varre (director); story: Owen Crump; narrator: Marvin Miller November 5, 1955 Venezuela
They Seek Adventure Jerry Fairbanks (producer); Harold D. Schuster (director); cast: Marshall Thompson, Richard Jaeckel & Walter Sande © January 7, 1956
Out of the Desert Jackson Winter (director); narrator: Marvin Miller February 4, 1956 covers Egypt
Copters and Cows Tom McGowan (director); narrator: Marvin Miller March 2, 1956 cattle ranching by helicopter in Vernon, Texas
The Wonders of Araby André de la Varre (director); story: Owen Crump; narrator: Marvin Miller June 2, 1956 Tour of the Middle East.
Miracle in the Caribbean Hamilton Wright (producer); narrator: Marvin Miller August 25, 1956 Puerto Rico
Playtime Pals André de la Varre (director); narrator: Johnny Jacobs October 27, 1956 (9 minutes) Children and sports worldwide
Howdy, Partner! Tom McGowan (director); Owen Crump (writer); narrator: Johnny Jacobs November 1956 Las Vegas
Pearls of the Pacific André de la Varre (director); narrator: Marvin Miller © March 2, 1957 Philippines
I'll Be Doggone! André de la Varre (director); narrator: Johnny Jacobs March 16, 1957 (9 minutes) Covers European dog shows

See also[edit]

Links[edit]

References[edit]

  • 1965 International Motion Picture Almanac 1964 Quigley Publishing Company
  • McCarty, Clifford (2000). 'Film Composers in America: A Filmography, 1911-1970. Oxford University Press.
  • Finler, Joel W. (2003). The Hollywood Story. Wallflower Press.(pages 294-296, brief coverage of shorts production and number of color features; page 369, color feature figures)
  • Liebman, Roy (2003). Vitaphone Films – A Catalogue of the Features and Shorts. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786412792.
  • Maltin, Leonard (1972). The Great Movie Shorts. Bonanza Books.
  • Motion Pictures 1912-1939 Catalog of Copyright Entries 1951 Library of Congress [1]
  • Motion Pictures 1940-1949 Catalog of Copyright Entries 1953 Library of Congress [2]
  • Motion Pictures 1950-1959 Catalog of Copyright Entries 1960 Library of Congress [3]
  • BoxOffice back issue scans available (release date information in multiple issue "Shorts Charts")

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ BoxOffice. August 25, 1936 (p.46), April 17, 1937 (p. 42) use “Broadway Brevities”, January 8, 1938 (p 71) use “Technicolor Special”
  2. ^ BoxOffice. March 14, 1942 (p. 103) also uses “Technicolor Special”
  3. ^ Finler, Joel W. The Hollywood Story. 2003. Wallflower Press. p. 294-296, 369
  4. ^ Liebman, Roy. Vitaphone Films – A Catalogue of the Features and Shorts. 2003. McFarland & Company, p. 104
  5. ^ Maltin, Leonard. The Great Movie Shorts. 1972. Bonanza Books, p. 26
  6. ^ 1965 International Motion Picture Almanac. 1964. Quigley Publishing Company. pp. 86-88A
  7. ^ Motion Pictures 1912-1939 Catalog of Copyright Entries. 1951. Library of Congress
  8. ^ McCarty, Clifford. Film Composers in America: A Filmography, 1911-1970. 2000. Oxford University Press
  9. ^ Billboard magazine, September 6, 1947, p. 68
  10. ^ Business Screen. February 1, 1947 (p. 55)
  11. ^ Ski Heritage Journal, Vol. 8, No. 2, Spring/Summer 1996, p. 19