Description
This collection documents the film collaborations and friendship of German-born
Dadaist, Hans Richter, and New York photographer and cinematographer, Arnold Eagle. It includes color film footage, out-takes
and audiotracks for
several of Richter's post-World War II films, as well as letters, notes, scripts, sketches, photographs, printed material
and
storyboards.
Background
A Hungarian-born photographer and cinematographer, Arnold Eagle is known for his documentary images of Jewish emigrant and
urban life on the lower
East Side of Manhattan. Eagle immigrated to Brooklyn, New York in 1929 and accepted a position working for the WPA in 1935.
During the 1940s he
began working with the artist Roy Striker and was later sent as a still photographer and cameraman to Louisiana to work with
Robert J. Flaherty on
his film Louisana story. Prior to leaving for Louisiana, Eagle met Hans Richter, the German-born Dadaist and filmmaker, and began
what would become a life-long friendship. They collaborated on a number of films including: Dreams that money can buy, 1944-1947, 8x8, 1950-1957, A Chess sonata
in eight episodes for color film, 1954-1957, Chesscetera (Passionate Pastime),
1956-1957, Dadascope, 1956-1961, and the
creation of an animation film, 1970-1971, based on Kasimir Malevich's script of 1927. Eagle became an instructor of cinematography
at the New School
for Social Research in 1955.
Extent
12 Linear Feet
(12 boxes)
Restrictions
Contact Library Reproductions and
Permissions.
Availability
Open for use by qualified researchers, except the original films and videos, which may not be viewed until reformatting is
complete. Reformatted use
copies are available for the Malevich film.