Herbert Kline Explained

Herbert Kline (March 13, 1909 – 1999) was an American filmmaker.^[1]

Biography

Herbert Kline was born on March 13, 1909 in Chicago as Herbert Klein and raised in Davenport, Iowa. He edited a theater magazine, staged Clifford Odets' plays, and was involved in Leftist organizations. He was blacklisted during the 1950s. He returned to filmmaking in the 1970s.^[2] His documentary films and dramas covered the Spanish Civil War, Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia, Nazi takeover of Europe,^[3] Holocaust survivors' journey to Mandatory Palestine, a World Series championship in Cleveland, the Mexican Revolution, and a film about modern art.

He married Rose Margaret Harvan and after the divorced Josine Ianco-Starrels with whom he had two children,^[2] a son and daughter.^[3]

He wrote the book New Theater And Film, 1934–1937.^[3]

MoMA restored and screened two of his World War II era films.^[4]

Filmography

• Heart of Spain, documentary about the Spanish Civil War made with photographer Géza Kárpáthi^[5]
• Return to Life, made in collaboration with Henri Cartier-Bresson^[6]
• Love Is a Headache (1938), co-writer
• Crisis (1939 film), a documentary about the Sudeten Crisis directed by Herbert Kline, Hans Burger, and Alexander Hammid
• Lights Out in Europe (1940), a documentary^[7]
• The Forgotten Village (1941),^[2] a documentary film (some sources call it an ethnofiction) directed by Herbert Kline and Alexander Hammid from John Steinbeck's writing and screenplay
• Cinco fueron escogidos (Five Were Chosen) (1943), a Mexican film set in Yugoslavia
• Youth Runs Wild (1944), co-writer
• Boogie-Woogie Dream (1944), co-director
• A Boy, a Girl and a Dog (1946), director
• My Father's House, director, about a Holocaust survivor immigrating to Mandatory Palestine made with writer Meyer Levin
• The Kid from Cleveland (1949)
• Illegal Entry (film) (1949), an immigration themed crime drama
• The Fighter (1952 film) director, a film about the Mexican Revolution
• Walls of Fire (1971), about Mexican muralists
• The Challenge... A Tribute to Modern Art (1974), narrated by Oraon Welles, (nominated for best documentary film at the 47th Academy Awards winner)
• (1981) about Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio^[8]

Notes and References

1. News: Herbert Kline, Filmmaker, 89; Recorded Crises in 30's Europe - The New York Times . 6 September 2024 . NY Times.
2. Web site: EHRI - Herbert Kline papers. portal.ehri-project.eu.
3. News: Herbert Kline obituary. Blanche. Marvin. February 19, 1999. The Guardian.
4. Web site: Against the Storm: Herbert Kline in a Darkened Europe. Flicker Alley.
5. News: Thomas . Kevin . 3 Curiosities from 1921-37 . 6 September 2024 . The Los Angeles Times . 21 August 1976.
6. News: Virginia Wright . 6 September 2024 . Daily News . 7 November 1944.
7. Web site: Watch Lights Out in Europe | MoMA Virtual Cinema Streaming | MoMA.
8. News: Davis . Shirley . Stasberg film is in the can . 6 September 2024 . Quad City Times . 1 August 1981.