Remember the petition we were getting signatures for at all of our main stage shows? Well... it was a success! We got the film!
Come by to help usher in a special film screening of the 1952 documentary.
Pictura: An Adventure in Art is a 1951 black and white documentary that showcases six notable artists from the fifteenth century to modern times, including Iowa’s own Grant Wood.
Film viewers are taken on a journey through pivotal moments in art history, encountering masterpieces by renowned artists such as Vittore Carpaccio, Francisco Goya, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Gauguin, and Wood. The production of the film involved consultation with sixty top art experts and received a Special Award at the Golden Globes “for the outstanding cultural film of 1951”.
The film was narrated by a lineup of Hollywood icons from the era including Vincent Price, Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda, Martin Gabel, and Lilli Palmer, with the hopes of cultivating art history appreciation among broader audiences.
Richard (Dick) Miller, a local Grant Wood historian, first learned about the film in 2008 when he began researching Wood as part of the Bluffs Arts Council project to collect and preserve Wood’s Corn Room Mural pieces salvaged from the historic Chieftain Hotel. Since then, Miller has been diligently searching for a way to view the film. With support from PACE, Miller more recently gathered over 700 signatures in a petition urging for the film's release from the archives of Turner Classic Movies (TCM).
Miller was particularly eager to watch the segment featuring Grant Wood. He had learned that actor Henry Fonda's narration brought depth to the stories behind several of Wood's renowned paintings, such as “John B. Turner, Pioneer,” a portrait of a Midwestern undertaker and the iconic “American Gothic,” featuring his sister and dentist posing as corn farmers. Fonda concluded his narration with a quote from Grant Wood himself. “In making these paintings,“ Wood wrote, “I had in mind something which I hope to convey to a fairly wide audience in America - the picture of a country rich in the arts of peace; a homely, lovable nation, infinitely worthy of any sacrifice necessary to its preservation.”
Through remarkable detective work, Eric Wells, PACE's Patron Services & Volunteer Coordinator, was able to help Miller track down the film. His search began by retracing Miller’s steps, starting with TCM. This led him down a path of emails, phone calls, online message boards, and messaging with Warner Brothers Archives, The Vincent Price Legacy Museum in the UK, and UCLA and USC’s film and cinema departments. Ultimately, Wells located the film at the USC Film Archive.
"Interestingly, someone found the original 16mm reels of the film on eBay in 2020, and they undertook the task of preserving and digitizing the film," Wells stated in a release. He further commented, "It was no small feat tracking down this piece of film history."
PACE obtained special permission from the USC Film Archive for a one-time public screening of the film, with petition signatures collected from the community helping to bolster their case.
On hearing this news, Miller was elated. "It's truly wonderful that we can share this film with the community and delve even deeper into the legacy of Grant Wood. His status as one of the greatest artists of all time is validated by this movie. We are fortunate to have access to view some of his work at the Hoff Center,” Miller stated in a release.
"We extend our deepest gratitude to Dick Miller for his invaluable guidance in shepherding this film project, and for his unyielding passion for the arts and all facets of Grant Wood's legacy," stated PACE CEO Danna Kehm in a release.
The doors will open at 6:30 PM, allowing ample time to purchase a drink from McCormick’s 1894 bar and grab complimentary movie theater popcorn, a favorite of Miller’s, generously provided by AMC Theaters. Beginning at 7:00 PM, we'll start with a brief video introduction featuring Miller, followed by the film screening. While admission is free, donations to support the Dick & DeAnna Miller Grant Wood Gallery at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center are greatly appreciated. Registration is recommended via the PACE website, but not required.
If his health permits, Miller will attend the film screening in person; otherwise, he will join the festivities via a video call to greet everyone in attendance.
PACE extends a special thank you to Dino Everett, Archivist at USC SCA HMH Foundation Moving Image Archive; Peter Fuller, Curator at The Vincent Price Legacy Museum and The Sound of Vincent Price Museum; Stephen Hanson, Head of Cinematic Arts Library and Associate Professor of Librarianship; and Bree Russell, Curator at the Warner Brothers Archives.
