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Museum of Modern Art presents The March of Time

National Gallery Of Art, The Museum Of Modern Art And Turner Classic Movies Join In Celebration

The Museum of Modern Art presents The March of Time, a 10-day exhibition of the propaganda-flavored “newsreels” that were shown in movie theaters between 1935 and 1951, which combined actual footage with reenactments. Exhibition open September 1–10, 2010.

Walter Winchell, Museum of Modern Art, New York. Film Stills Archive

The March of Time expressed the worldview of Time magazine creator Henry Luce, who candidly described the series as “fakery in allegiance to the truth.” Relying on the omniscient narration of Westbrook Van Voorhis, The March of Time had an enormous impact; the series won an Oscar in 1937, and was satirized by Orson Welles in Citizen Kane. As historian Raymond Fielding describes it, “Time editorialized openly, infuriating its enemies and oftentimes alienating its friends. And it did all this with vigor, artistry, and showmanship….” Through the courtesy of the current copyright holder, Home Box Office (HBO), MoMA presents this sampling of “Time capsules” from a distant but eerily similar era to remind us that “time (still) marches on!”

Organized by Charles Silver, Curator, Department of Film, The Museum of Modern Art.

www.moma.org

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