Luis Buñuel directed Las Hurdes, also called Land Without Bread. Buñuel read a book about the Hurdes region of Spain and the poverty there, and then he went to the region and filmed it as well, even killing two animals in the production process. One was covered in honey and stung to death by bees; another was shot and its body tossed over the edge of the mountain. Buñuel’s original version was silent, but he later added deadpan narration with sarcastic commentary to the soundtrack. Along with some of the production techniques, Buñuel used the features of the developing documentary form and the emerging ethnographic film of the time to create a parody, or even a mockumentary of these forms through this film.
1934
1935
The first cinematic issue of March of Time debuts February 1 in the Capitol Theatre in New York. Produced by Louis de Rochemont, the series runs for 16 years, from 1935 to 1951. A newsreel, March of Time episodes present the news through a combination of reenactments and reportage. (Bluem 35-38)
1936
1937
1938
Pare Lorentz convinces the U.S. Federal Government to establish the United States Film Service. The service was intended to assist other government departments in their film making activities.