Robert Drew facts for kids

Robert Lincoln Drew (born February 15, 1924 – died July 30, 2014) was an American filmmaker. He is known as one of the first people to create a new style of documentary film. This style is called cinéma vérité or direct cinema. It means showing real life as it happens, without actors or scripts.

Two of his movies, Primary and Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment, are very important. They are kept in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. This means they are seen as important parts of American history and culture. Robert Drew won many awards for his work, including a special award for his whole career in documentaries.

Robert Drew: A Pioneer Filmmaker

Robert Drew was born in Toledo, Ohio. His father sold films and also flew seaplanes. Robert grew up mostly in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. In 1942, when he was 18, he left high school to join the U.S. Army Air Corps. He became a combat pilot at age 19. He flew P-51 planes in Italy and completed 30 missions.

During his time as a pilot, he met Ernie Pyle, a famous reporter. This meeting was important for Drew, who would later become a journalist himself. He was shot down behind enemy lines but survived for over three months. After returning to the U.S., he flew the first jet airplanes. He wrote an article about flying a P-80 jet for Life magazine. The magazine then offered him a job.

New Ideas for Documentaries

While working at Life magazine, Robert Drew also studied at Harvard University. In 1955, he started thinking about why documentaries were often boring. He wondered how they could be made more exciting and dramatic.

He wanted to create documentaries that showed real events as they unfolded. He imagined a type of film that would "drop word logic" and instead show "a dramatic logic." This meant letting the pictures and actions tell the story, not just words. He wanted to show "a kind of truth that can only be gotten from personal experience."

Creating Drew Associates

Drew started his own group called Drew Associates. He brought together other filmmakers who shared his vision. These included Richard Leacock, D.A. Pennebaker, Terence Macartney-Filgate, and Albert Maysles. They all became famous filmmakers later on.

They worked on new technology to make their films. They made smaller 16mm cameras that could be held by hand. They also found ways to perfectly match the camera's picture with the sound. This allowed them to film real events up close, as they happened.

Famous Films and Their Impact

One of Drew Associates' most famous films is Primary (1960). This documentary showed the election race between Hubert Humphrey and John F. Kennedy in Wisconsin. It is seen as one of the very first direct cinema documentaries. Many film experts say Primary changed how non-fiction films were made forever.

After President Kennedy saw Primary and liked it, Drew suggested making a film about him dealing with a big problem. They got their chance during the Civil Rights Movement. Governor George Wallace of Alabama promised to block two African-American students from entering the University of Alabama. He wanted to stop schools from becoming integrated.

Drew got permission for his filmmakers to film inside the White House. They filmed with Robert Kennedy and also in George Wallace's home in Alabama. This was all happening in the days before June 11, 1963. On that day, Wallace made his famous Stand in the Schoolhouse Door. The film, called Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment, was shown on TV in October 1963.

This film started many discussions about the Civil Rights Movement. It also made people talk about cinéma vérité and direct cinema. Some people were upset that cameras were allowed inside the White House. After this, politicians became more careful about letting documentary filmmakers film them.

Drew's films have been shown on many TV channels, like ABC and PBS. They have also been shown at film festivals around the world. Famous film director Sir Ridley Scott said that working as an assistant at Drew Associates helped him decide to become a filmmaker.

Robert Drew made many documentaries throughout his career. He won awards all over the world. His films covered many topics, including civil rights, social issues, politics, music, and dance. One of his later films, From Two Men and a War, was about his own experiences as a World War II fighter pilot. It also showed his meetings with the famous reporter Ernie Pyle.

Death

Robert Drew passed away on July 30, 2014. He died at his home in Sharon, Connecticut.

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