United States Information Agency (USIA)

During the fertile early years of Drew Associates following the breakthrough of Primary, came this seldom-seen portrait of David Allen, a jazz trumpeter struggling in the Santa Monica drug rehabilitation center Synanon House. Pennebaker’s love of music drew him to David and the film prefigures later portraits such as Dont Look Back. He teamed with Life photographer William Ray and producer Gregory Shuker.

"This film, made by the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) as part of its Cold War campaign to promote American interests and ideology abroad, covers First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's visit to India and Pakistan in 1962 and focuses on Mrs. Kennedy's growing popularity as a diplomatic force. The film was directed by Leo Seltzer, narrated by Raymond Massey, and released by United Artists" (US National Archives).

"This film examines immigration to the United States from the late 1800s to the 1950s. Ellis Island is the focal point of the program, which includes reminiscences by an immigrant as well as live action footage and old still pictures" (US National Archives). This documentary was a product of the Young Filmmaker Bicentennial Grant given by the US Information Agency.

"This semi-animated documentary film portrays Czechoslovakian animator Paul Fierlinger's arrival to the United States and covers his production of a film that presents the history, legends, and significance of the American flag. The film was produced by Concept Films" (US National Archives).

"This film tells the story of a young Mexican-American carpenter in Los Angeles, California who earns journeyman status through night school classes and on-the-job apprenticeship training. The film also describes the vocational and economic opportunities that are made available through enlightened labor management in a free enterprise system. The film was written, produced, and directed by Hart Sprager, narrated by Ronald Feinberg, and is part of the [USIA's] 'Young in America" series.'" (US National Archives). This is also among the first films of the famous cinematographer, Vilmos Zsigmond (here credited as "William Zsigmond").

"This film depicts modern American products and U.S. economic development through the U.S. national exhibit at the 1966 trade fair in Addis Ababa, Ehtiopia, which was attended by 360,000 Africans (including children from the Haile Selassie I Day School, who toured the exhibition as part of a classroom assignment)" (US National Archives). Directed by renowned cinematographer, Stevan Larner.

An anti-Communist propaganda film produced by the United States Information Agency for the indoctrination of the children separated by Operation Peter Pan into the United States. The short film follows the life of Roberto and two other young children inside the Florida City Camp that was one of the main offloading sites for children.

Short propaganda film produced by the U.S. government about the Vietnam War, narrated by actor Charlton Heston. The movie includes scenes of battle that have been identified as staged and shouldn't be interpreted as an accurate depiction of fighting during the Vietnam War. For more on the accuracy of the footage in this film see the book "The Cold War and the United States Information Agency: American Propaganda and Diplomacy, 1945-1989" by Nicholas J. Cull (pages 248-49). This film was produced by the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) and is in the public domain. National Archives Identifier: 1182760 Local Identifier: 306.5798 Accession Number: NC3-306-77-7 ARC Identifier: 1182760 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1182760

A psychedelic animated short celebrating America's bicentennial. The film " provides a short, impressionistic history of the U.S. through famous American symbols, including the Statue of Liberty; the Woodstock logo; the Liberty Bell; and Mt. Rushmore. The symbols are layered on top of each other, as can be seen from a bald eagle hatching from a red, white, and blue egg and flying past the American Gothic farmers, the U.S. Capitol building, the Golden Gate Bridge, Abraham Lincoln’s cabin, and an American bison. The film was directed by Vince Collins" (US National Archives).

An anthology of five short films ("The Hands of a Stranger", "The Other War", "A Distant Province", "The Eighth District", and "PHILCAG"), made jointly by Vietnamese and American filmmakers. Collectively, the films "explore the faces of the Vietnam war that lie behind the fighting--those that must fight a war against fear, hunger, and despair. [They are] told through the stories of five "faces": a Filipino doctor and a Vietnamese child; a Vietnamese soldier and a Vietnamese villager; an American technical expert; a Saigon youth; and a Philippine Civic Action Group (PHILCAG) contingent" (US National Archives). The film is hosted by an unnamed man speaking to a Filipino audience (in English); so the anthology likely was screened in and/or partly produced with the Philippines.

"This film depicts how people around the world benefit from innovations developed by the U.S. space program. Without narration, the film uses motion pictures, still photography, and animation to show advances in food production, education, communications, navigation, meteorology, resource exploration, mapping, and other activities. The film was produced by Murakami Wolf Films, Inc. (Hollywood, CA), directed by Jimmy Murakami, executive produced by Fred Wolf, and features the voices of Olan Soule and Lennie Weinrib, with music composed by Chico Hamilton" (US National Archives).

"This film uses the 1966 California gubernatorial race between Republican Ronald Reagan and Democratic incumbent Pat Brown to show how, every two years, autumn is the season of campaigns and elections in the United States. The film highlights election rituals and focuses on the excitement, rhetoric, and rivalries of campaigns, and how political candidates and issues are presented to the American public. The film is narrated by Lee Marvin and features an appearance by actor Chuck Connors in support of Ronald Reagan" (US National Archives).

This film explores how the conflict with the North affects "South Vietnam's traditional culture, and seeks to explain why the South Vietnamese people still have the will to fight. Included in the film are a funeral procession, family life scenes, fishermen and farmers at work, soldiers moving single file along a dike, and a wedding procession" (US National Archives). A binational production between the United States and the (former) Republic of South Vietnam.

"This film deals with South Vietnam's "Open Arms" program, designed to encourage communist defectors. The film presents three defectors who tell how Chieu Hoi leaflets persuaded them to desert the North. Their stories offer a candid and telling testimonial against the Viet Cong. The film was produced and directed by William Bayer" (US National Archives).

"This film features the people of Puerto Rico and the revival of the ancient culture of that island. The story is told through the eyes and work of Dr. Ricardo Alegria — head of Puerto Rico's Office of Cultural Affairs and the first executive director of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. The film was produced by Paul R. Gurian, executive produced by David Boyer, and directed by Jack Sholder" (US National Archives).

"This film explores how freedom of speech — including dissent — is afforded to all Americans, and shows freedom of expression in art, music, dance, architecture, and science. The film also emphasizes the importance of the individual’s contribution to the whole of society and demonstrates how a productive and creative society is formed by the open and respectful exchange of ideas. The film was written, produced, and directed by William Greaves" (National Archives).

"This film presents rare documentary footage of presidential inaugurations, from William McKinley in 1897 to Lyndon Johnson in 1965. The film conveys the strength, stability, and continuity of the U.S. government. Included in the program are highlights of the 1965 inaugural parade, footage from the inaugural balls, and performances by Carol Channing, Louis Armstrong, Margot Fonteyn, and Rudolf Nureyev. The film was produced by News of the Day, written and directed by Walter de Hoog, narrated by James Cagney, and includes original music by Bruce Herschensohn" (US National Archives).

"This film shows the widespread participation of millions of boys, their parents, and adult volunteers in Little League baseball around the world each summer. The film includes scenes from games in several parts of the world, with an emphasis on a Little League World Series game between an Indiana team and a team from Taiwan. The film was produced and directed by John Hynd and narrated by Dick Van Dyke" (US National Archives).