The Spanish Earth

A documentary about the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) funded and filmed by writers, actors, and directors who were part of the American Popular Front in the 1930s. The film was directed by Joris Ivens, written by John Dos Passos and Ernest Hemingway, narrated by Orson Welles and re-recorded by Hemingway (with Jean Renoir doing the narration in the French release). With footage from battles and the home front, the film captures the Republican efforts to defeat the fascists/Nationalists. At the time, the film opened debates about the documentary form, particularly the issue of bias, and the film itself revealed more about American politics and culture than Spanish.