The Factual Film -The Arts Enquiry

Title: The Factual Film
Author: The Arts Enquiry
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Edition: 1947
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 259
Size: 5.5 in x 8 in

The Factual Film (1947), authored by The Arts Enquiry and published by Oxford University Press, is one of the earliest comprehensive examinations of the documentary film movement. Spanning 259 pages, this hardcover edition offers an authoritative and insightful account of how factual cinema evolved as both an art form and a means of communication during a period marked by social change, war, and innovation in visual media.

This volume investigates the origins, purposes, and techniques of non-fiction filmmaking — from early educational and industrial films to wartime propaganda and post-war documentaries. It discusses how filmmakers used the medium to depict truth, influence public opinion, and document reality with creative integrity. Richly detailed and meticulously researched, it highlights the role of pioneers such as John Grierson, Robert Flaherty, and other early visionaries who helped establish the foundation for modern documentary cinema.

Beyond film theory, The Factual Film also examines the organizational, financial, and ethical aspects of production, offering valuable insights into the cultural policies that shaped documentary work in Britain and beyond. As part of The Arts Enquiry’s broader effort to study post-war art and communication, this book stands as a cornerstone text for historians, critics, and researchers interested in film studies, media history, and the sociology of art.

Measuring 5.5 x 8 inches, this 1947 hardcover edition represents not just a book but a historical artifact — reflecting the intellectual spirit of the time when cinema was emerging as a serious medium of expression and education.

• Published by Oxford University Press in 1947, first scholarly examination of documentary cinema.

• Written by The Arts Enquiry, a pioneering research group analyzing post-war art and culture.

• Covers the evolution, ethics, and social influence of factual and documentary filmmaking.

• Essential reference for students of film studies, media theory, and visual communication.

• Vintage hardcover edition, ideal for collectors and scholars of cinematic history.