Three amazing early 1930s newsreels of revolutionary Detroit. Begun in 1931, inspired by European projects and the energies and vision of pioneering Marxist U.S. film theorist, and too-soon gone, Harry Alan Potamkin, the W.F.P.L. would become a well-organized and highly competent section of the Workers International Relief. Much of its later driving force came from Leon Hurwitz, a future blacklistee, who remained a life-long radical film-maker, and later teacher at NYU’s film school. Aside from producing, presenting, and teaching films, the League provided many of the Daily Worker photos and created now priceless primary records of the era’s demonstrations and strikes, as well as forays into fictionalised cinema verité. Almost all the films were silent, black and white, shot in 35 mm, and only one reel (no more than 15-minutes). Detroit, with its particularly active class war, also had a particularly active League, in part thanks to such activists as Joseph Hudyma and Jack Auringer. In a tragedy for the history of our movement, much of the W.F.P.L. filmed archives and production records were destroyed by a 1935 storage fire. However, of the many dozen, hundreds, of films and shorts created, some do survive, thanks to MOMA, and digitized. There are not better visual records for the comrades, actions, language, events, styles, attitudes, and concerns of the Communist movement of its 1930s high-point than these films, which contain enough detail to warrant repeat watchings. The three short films below bookend one of the era’s defining moments; the massacre of Hunger Marchers by Ford’s goons in Dearborn on March 7, 1932. The films are ‘Detroit: February 4, 1932’; following just a month later ‘The Ford Massacre’ and 1933’s ‘Communist Rallies in Michigan.’ Precious and unique documents of our movement.

Three Films by The Detroit Workers Film and Photo League: Before, During, and After the Ford Hunger March Massacre, 1932-33.

‘Detroit: February 4, 1932’ a Film by The Workers Film and Photo League.

“The only newsreel coverage of the historic mass march in downtown Detroit on 2/4/32, against the policies of Hoover, and the armed attack by Dearborn police and Ford guards at the unemployed workers at the gates of the River Rouge plant.”

‘Ford Hunger March Massacre’

Detailing the March 7, 1932 killing, wakes, and funerals. Photographed by Joseph P. Hudyma, J. Auringer, John Shard, Robert Del Duca, and Leo Seltzer, edited by Joseph P. Hudyma and Lester Balog.

‘1933 Communist Party Rallies in Michigan’ by the Detroit Film and Photo League of the Workers International Relief.

Shows a growing movement; hunger and bonus marches, anti-imperialist rallies, anti-racist protests, strikes, and anti-fascist actions throughout Michigan during the Great Depression.