Best Documentary Movies of 1939

The 400 million people of China are heirs to a great civilization, as their pagodas and stone lions can attest. But they are under attack from the Japanese. Civilian refugees walk, stumble, crawl to escape the destruction of their cities... While in the China of tradition, water buffalo still work the paddies and camels cross the desert, modern China is now a republic founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, with modern schools, heavy industry, large engineering projects... The government of Chiang Kai-shek resists the Japanese invasion from the coast. Madame Chiang receives a cheque from the U.S.A. for war relief. War production continues in distant villages safe from the grasp of the Japanese. With modern weapons the Chinese are pursuing their struggle behind enemy lines. And still their opponent persists in his reprisal bombings of civilian targets. "Will these people win?"

This early, influential propaganda film blends documentary and studio footage to show the valiant efforts of the Royal Air Force to defend the British people against the Nazis.

It's Thanksgiving. Newlywed husband Abner Poodlebean faces the turkey his wife has prepared: she wants him to carve it at the table in front of her scowling family, and Abner has no idea how to proceed. The film's narrator has us cut away to the kitchen of chef M.O. Cullen who demonstrates the proper way to carve the bird, spoon out the stuffing, and lay out the platter. Back to Abner, who's missed Cullen's lesson, so he makes a fine mess. Can this marriage survive?

This film is less a typical musical short and more like an educational film. It consists of a narrator describing the music, composition and style of a big band.

Polemic documentary extolling the virtues of suburban life and leaving cities as a place of industry.

Sword Fishing is a 1939 short documentary film about a group of fisherman, including Howard Hill, "the world's greatest archer," who go in search of marlin off the California coast. With fishing line attached to his arrow, Hill plans to spear the fish, which would then be brought aboard the boat by rod and reel. In 1940, the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, One-Reel at the 12th Academy Awards.

JAZZ HOT is a major discovery, a unique sync sound film recorded of Django Reinhardt, greatest of jazz guitarists, here with violinist Stephane Grappelli and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France.

In this short film, two starstruck movie fans hire a tour guide and see a plethora of Hollywood stars.

This feature documentary offers a complete record of the 1939 Royal Tour of Canada by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The film opens as the royal couple makes a stop in Québec city, where Premier Duplessis greets them. They then visit Montréal and meet mayor Camilien Houde. A visit to Ottawa brings them to Parliament, where Prime Minister MacKenzie King is present. The visit continues throughout Ontario, the prairies, and western Canada. The Royal couple also makes a brief stop in Washington and meets President Franklin Roosevelt. They then stop in on the Maritime provinces before boarding a Royal yacht for the journey back to England.

Through stop motion, a car is built piece-by-piece in 3-D with the added enhancement of music and sound effects. Each part becomes "alive" and has its own distinct characteristics. Originally made for the 1939 World's Fair.

This short film focuses on the sights and sounds of the island of Curacao

This Technicolor portrait of Jakarta was filmed when it was called Batavia and formed part of the Dutch East Indies colonial empire. The film portrays the daily life of citizens and the relaxed atmosphere that prevailed at the time. We see Batavia's Amsterdam Gate, built by the Dutch around 1664, along with the strong influence of Dutch architecture upon other buildings, streets and waterways.

This entry in the TravelTalks series visits the ancient Egypt. starting Valley of the Kings in a remote and desolate part of Egypt, the entrance to tomb of King Tut is shown, though the ts priceless treasure is now in the Cairo museum. A visit to Luxor and the ancient city of Thebes, which date to 1500 BC, follow with subsequent visits to Karnak. The film closes by noting that past and present are in harmony with the water wheel and village well still in wide use in the modern age.

This Traveltalk series short visits the rural agricultural areas of Hungary.

A look at London Film Productions' studios at Denham.

This short film focuses on a group of lifeguards from a Southern California beach during the off season.

Technicolor scenes from an Indian Durbar, held for the Maharaja of Alwar in Rajasthan.

In this Traveltalk series short, we view the Inside Passage to Alaska, the longest protected waterway in the world. Traveling north, we enter the small town of Seward, gateway to the interior. One of the burgeoning industries is the raising of silver fox and mink. There are many road houses scattered throughout Alaska, but one of the most famous is twenty-three miles outside of Seward on Lake Kenai belonging to Nellie Lawing, better known as Alaska Nellie, who has a long and storied history in Alaska.

A documentary by Jirí Weiss

Busy Little Bears is a 1939 American short family film directed by John A. Haeseler. The film follows three bear cubs are observed exploring the forests of the Sierra Nevadas, encountering other wildlife, and invading the kitchen of a local ranch house. It won an Oscar at the 12th Academy Awards in 1940 for Best Short Subject (One-Reel).

Produced shortly before the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, If War Should Come was one of the last films to be produced by the GPO Film Unit before it was re-named the Crown Film Unit and incorporated into the Films Division of the Ministry of Information.

This Pete Smith Specialty offers a look at Marineland of Florida, featuring the various marine life on display there.

An exmination of the sport of championship diving.

An MGM short showing how materials are shipped by boat 'From the Ends of the Earth' to Hollywood. Featuring footage from the MGM films being made at the time. Such as The Women, Thunder Afloat, Siren of the Tropics, Ninotchka, Northwest Passage, and At the Circus.

A "March of Time" presentation of the evolution of movies compiled primarily from film clips of silent movies through the early sound pictures to the present (1939) date. Industry executives such as Jack and Harry Warner, Walt Disney, Cecil B. DeMille, et al are seen taking bows in the live (non-archive) footage.

In this short film's four segments, "Bowery Beautician", "Chutes", "Home Brew", and "Girth Control", the viewer is shown how certain conveniences and inventions aid the user.

Pete Smith takes a humorous look at the wildlife that lives among the California redwoods.

Aimed at African Americans and shot at Tuskegee University, this film instructs viewers in the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis by focusing on a pair of sympathetic siblings, George and Mary, whose lives are altered by the disease. Starring Rex Ingram as Dr. Gordon, the film suggests that organized religion is an important defensive location in this particular community, and warns of the dangers of the previous generation’s superstitions and its fear of medicine. The Health Department prominently featured the film at the 1939 World’s Fair. Directed by Edgar Ulmer.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Mother) in the royal carriage.

Ice skating is the theme; at the Tropical Ice Garden, in Westwood Hills, are seen a flock of skating stars including Irene Dare and Phyllis Ann Thomoson, as well as Hollywood luminaries such as Franklyn Pangborn, Norma Shearer, Rita Hayworth, Mickey Rooney, Dick Purcell and Ann Sheridan.

Oil arrives at the Ayrshire end of the Firth of Clyde: this fine documentary tells the story of the process, and of oil’s use to power Scotland’s industries. Informative throughout and at times very evocative, it was directed by Ruby Grierson, too often overshadowed by her brother John, ‘the father of British documentary’, but a good filmmaker in her own right, who was killed during WWII.

Short film which documents Marian Anderson's singing performance at the Lincoln Memorial.

An exposition, by means of diagrams and models, of the working principles of the compression ignition or oil engine.

A documentary demonstrating the evolution of lubrication since Egyptian times and how modern machines have advanced.

This Department of Interior film examines the origins of the Civilian Conservation Corps and profiles various accomplishments of the group in helping to build our nation's parks.

A documentary looking at the elementary principles, illustrated by means of diagrams and models, of an internal combustion engine.

The Shell Film Unit's free-enterprise history of technology.

Reveals the activities, customs, and traditions of the Watussi, an African people characterized by their advanced culture. Shows the ruling prince and royal family and activities in the royal household, including weaving, decorating, cooking, and churning. Portrays the prince as he inspects his cattle and leads a hunt, and depicts his young son presiding over a ceremonial dance.

Ages before men proclaimed himself a superioir being,the tiny ant had developed the art of agriculture — a practice which was later to be the backbone of human society

The findings of Danish paleontologist Peter Lund. The landscape of the region of Lagoa Santa, the men, the houses and the animals. Some of the caves from where Lund collected the remains of prehistoric animals and humans. Some fossils from the caves of the Lagoa Santa region. The fossils of the Lund room in the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro.

A class of expectant mothers practise ante-natal exercises designed by Kathleen Vaughan at Paddington (LCC Hospital), London. The purpose of each exercise is explained by intertitles prior to the footage. One of the women is a former ballerina in her 34th week of pregnancy - she is frequently singled out to demonstrate the poses and at the end of the film she does a small ballet performance.

Cécile, Annette, Yvonne, Émilie and Marie, the Dionne Quintuplets, turn five years old and have a private birthday party in their garden. Other than the five little French-Canadian princesses-of-the-world, the attendees at the party for the sheltered sisters are their doctor-and-mentor Roy Dafoe; a priest and two nurses; radio's "Town Crier" Alexander Woollcott; and RKO-Newsreel cameraman Harry Smith.

Promotion reel/souvenir of a 1939-40 meeting of the Paramount Studios sales people.

Eugen Weidmann was a German criminal and serial murderer who was executed by guillotine in France in June 1939, the last public execution in that country. Unknown to authorities, film of the execution was shot from a private apartment adjacent to the prison. British actor Christopher Lee – who was 17 at the time – witnessed the event.

Documentary short by Humphrey Jennings

Colour amateur documentary from 1939 on life in South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, produced by Frances Hotham. Part 1 (South Africa) includes arrival at Durban, Natal and Howick Falls, war dances at Inanda (Natal) and the Rose Deep Gold Mine (Johannesburg). Also, Cecil Rhodes’ grave and views of the Victoria Falls. Part 2 (Rhodesia and the Cape Peninsular) includes the Zambezi river and gorges, Umtali, Kruger National Park, Cape Town, Cape Peninsula, Cecil Rhodes’ memorial, Table Mountain and Kalk Bay.

A documentary about the threat of war breaking out in Europe, focusing on Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini.

Commissioned by The Committee On International Economic Policy and The Carnegie Endowment For International Peace to help stem the isolationist tide washing across America at the dawn of World War II, to prepare the citizenry for the eventual process of international economic reconstruction.

About famous racehorse Seabiscuit