Helen van Dongen
Encyclopedia
Helen van Dongen was a pioneering editor of documentary films who was active from about 1925-1950. She collaborated with filmmaker Joris Ivens
from 1925 to 1940, made several independent documentaries, and edited two of Robert Flaherty's films before retiring from filmmaking in her 40s.
, van Dongen met Joris Ivens in her teens and eventually became his key collaborator. She worked on Ivens' first films The Bridge
(1928) and Rain
(1929). In the 1930s she was credited as the editor of Ivens' films including Nieuwe Gronden (1934), Misère au Borinage
(1934), The Spanish Earth
(1937), and The 400 Million (1939). Bob Mastrangelo has written that these four films "earned Ivens a worldwide reputation, and solidified van Dongen's status as one of the most important editors of her generation." He suggests that van Dongen's most important credit was as the editor of The Spanish Earth (1937), Ivens' film about the Spanish Civil War
that was narrated by Ernest Hemingway
: "...almost 70 years later it remains a powerful testament to the devastating effects of civil war. The intensity of van Dongen's editing is an important factor in the film's impact, particularly in the way it contrasts the horrors of war with the beauty of the Spanish countryside." Her final film with Ivens was Power and the Land (1940). Van Dongen and Ivens were briefly married in the mid-1940s, after their filmmaking collaboration had ended.
In 1941 van Dongen edited Robert Flaherty's film, The Land (1942), and she co-produced and edited his film Louisiana Story
(1948). Jon Lupo described their collaboration as follows: "Though both The Land and Louisiana Story are prime examples of Flaherty's filmmaking sensibility, much of the beauty and emotional gravity of the films is owed to Van Dongen's delicately focused sound and film editing." Van Dongen kept a diary during her work on Louisiana Story that she later published, and that is considered an important record both of the film and of Flaherty's career.
Van Dongen also produced several films on her own. Her 1937 film, Spain in Flames
a compilation of Spanish Civil War newsreel footage that was narrated by John Dos Passos
. In 1943, she made the compilation film Russians at War using Soviet newsreel footage; the film was made for the U.S State Department
. Van Dongen's personal favorite among her independent films was News Review No. 2 (1944–45), which has apparently been lost; it was a compilation film of Second World War combat footage. Her final film was Of Human Rights (1950), which she produced, directed, and edited; the film was made for The United Nations to celebrate The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In 1950, van Dongen married Kenneth Durant, and retired from filmmaking. The two worked together on a study of the origin and evolution of the Adirondack guideboat
. After Durant's death in 1972 van Dongen continued the work, which was published in 1980.
Joris Ivens
Joris Ivens was a Dutch documentary filmmaker and committed communist.-Early life and career:...
from 1925 to 1940, made several independent documentaries, and edited two of Robert Flaherty's films before retiring from filmmaking in her 40s.
Life and career
Born in AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, van Dongen met Joris Ivens in her teens and eventually became his key collaborator. She worked on Ivens' first films The Bridge
De brug
De brug is a 1928 Dutch documentary short film directed by Joris Ivens. This silent film explores the newly constructed Rotterdam vertical-lift railroad bridge: its structure, mechanisms, complex actions, and the steam-powered trains and ships making use of it.- Synopsis :Three views of the film...
(1928) and Rain
Rain (1929 film)
Rain is a 1929 Dutch short documentary film directed by Mannus Franken and Joris Ivens....
(1929). In the 1930s she was credited as the editor of Ivens' films including Nieuwe Gronden (1934), Misère au Borinage
Misère au Borinage
Misère au Borinage is a 1933 Belgian documentary film directed by Henri Storck and Joris Ivens.The film opens with these words: Crisis in the Capitalist World. Factories are closed down, abandoned...
(1934), The Spanish Earth
The Spanish Earth
The Spanish Earth was a propaganda film made during the Spanish Civil War in favor of the democratically elected Republicans ....
(1937), and The 400 Million (1939). Bob Mastrangelo has written that these four films "earned Ivens a worldwide reputation, and solidified van Dongen's status as one of the most important editors of her generation." He suggests that van Dongen's most important credit was as the editor of The Spanish Earth (1937), Ivens' film about the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
that was narrated by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
: "...almost 70 years later it remains a powerful testament to the devastating effects of civil war. The intensity of van Dongen's editing is an important factor in the film's impact, particularly in the way it contrasts the horrors of war with the beauty of the Spanish countryside." Her final film with Ivens was Power and the Land (1940). Van Dongen and Ivens were briefly married in the mid-1940s, after their filmmaking collaboration had ended.
In 1941 van Dongen edited Robert Flaherty's film, The Land (1942), and she co-produced and edited his film Louisiana Story
Louisiana Story
Louisiana Story is a 78-minute black-and-white American film. Although the events and characters depicted are fictional, it is often misidentified as a documentary film. In fact, it is a docufiction. The script was written by Frances H. Flaherty and Robert J. Flaherty, and also directed by Robert...
(1948). Jon Lupo described their collaboration as follows: "Though both The Land and Louisiana Story are prime examples of Flaherty's filmmaking sensibility, much of the beauty and emotional gravity of the films is owed to Van Dongen's delicately focused sound and film editing." Van Dongen kept a diary during her work on Louisiana Story that she later published, and that is considered an important record both of the film and of Flaherty's career.
Van Dongen also produced several films on her own. Her 1937 film, Spain in Flames
Spain in Flames
Spain in Flames is a compilation film made by Helen van Dongen during the Spanish Civil War. Hal Erickson has written that the film "... is remarkable in its willingness to offer both sides of the conflict -- though its sympathies are firmly with the Loyalists." The film consists of two parts...
a compilation of Spanish Civil War newsreel footage that was narrated by John Dos Passos
John Dos Passos
John Roderigo Dos Passos was an American novelist and artist.-Early life:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Dos Passos was the illegitimate son of John Randolph Dos Passos , a distinguished lawyer of Madeiran Portuguese descent, and Lucy Addison Sprigg Madison of Petersburg, Virginia. The elder Dos Passos...
. In 1943, she made the compilation film Russians at War using Soviet newsreel footage; the film was made for the U.S State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
. Van Dongen's personal favorite among her independent films was News Review No. 2 (1944–45), which has apparently been lost; it was a compilation film of Second World War combat footage. Her final film was Of Human Rights (1950), which she produced, directed, and edited; the film was made for The United Nations to celebrate The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In 1950, van Dongen married Kenneth Durant, and retired from filmmaking. The two worked together on a study of the origin and evolution of the Adirondack guideboat
Adirondack guideboat
Adirondack guideboats were built since the early 19th century and evolved from a hunting skiff to today's highly refined design, virtually unchanged since the late 19th century...
. After Durant's death in 1972 van Dongen continued the work, which was published in 1980.
Selected filmography
This filmography is based on the comprehensive filmography posted by Hans Schoots. The director of each film is indicated in parenthesis.- 1931 Philips Radio (Ivens): Co-editor
- 1933 Nieuwe Gronden (Ivens): Editor
- 1934 Misère au BorinageMisère au BorinageMisère au Borinage is a 1933 Belgian documentary film directed by Henri Storck and Joris Ivens.The film opens with these words: Crisis in the Capitalist World. Factories are closed down, abandoned...
(Ivens/StorckHenri StorckHenri Storck was a Belgian author, film-maker and documentarist.In 1933, he directed, with Joris Ivens, Misère au Borinage, a film about the miners in the Borinage area. In 1938, with Andre Thirifays and Pierre Vermeylen, he founded the Cinémathèque Royale de Belgique...
): Editor (Note: For the subsequent Russian-language version) - 1934 Daily Life (RichterHans RichterHans Richter may refer to:*Hans Richter , Austrian conductor*Hans Richter , designer of the Volksbühne in Berlin and villa Heller in Ústí nad Labem...
): Editor - 1936 Spain in FlamesSpain in FlamesSpain in Flames is a compilation film made by Helen van Dongen during the Spanish Civil War. Hal Erickson has written that the film "... is remarkable in its willingness to offer both sides of the conflict -- though its sympathies are firmly with the Loyalists." The film consists of two parts...
: Editor, Producer - 1937 The Spanish EarthThe Spanish EarthThe Spanish Earth was a propaganda film made during the Spanish Civil War in favor of the democratically elected Republicans ....
(Ivens): Editor - 1939 The 400 Million (Ivens): Editor
- 1941 Power and the Land (Ivens): Editor
- 1942 The Land (Flaherty): Editor
- 1943 Peoples of Indonesia: Editor, director
- 1944 Know Your Enemy: JapanKnow Your Enemy: JapanKnow Your Enemy: Japan is an American propaganda film directed by Frank Capra, commissioned by the U.S. War Department. Completion was delayed by disputes between the Hollywood producers and Washington. The original intention of the film was to prepare U.S...
: Co-editor - 1948 Louisiana StoryLouisiana StoryLouisiana Story is a 78-minute black-and-white American film. Although the events and characters depicted are fictional, it is often misidentified as a documentary film. In fact, it is a docufiction. The script was written by Frances H. Flaherty and Robert J. Flaherty, and also directed by Robert...
(Flaherty): Editor - 1950 Of Human Rights: Director, producer, editor