The Compassionate Eye

Horace Bristol: Photojournalist

A film by David Rabinovitch / Narrated by Graham Nash

Horace Bristol shot some of the most significant photographs of the 20th century, compelling images that have become icons of our past. He captured emotional moments, set against a backdrop of history in the making. Horace was among the first contributors to Life magazine, photographing migrant labor camps in a series that became the basis for The Grapes of Wrath. He circled the globe in World War II with Edward Steichen's Navy photography unit. He spent the postwar decade documenting the changing way of life in Japan and Asia, covering Emperor Hirohito, General MacArthur, Chiang Kai-Shek, Prince Sihanouk, and the wars in Korea. China, and Vietnam. His photographs countered the numerous stereotypes of Asian culture perpetrated at the time.

Bristol's photographs were lost for forty years after he destroyed every print he could find in a terrible act of self-recrimination when his wife committed suicide in 1955. Incredibly, three footlockers containing over 3,000 of his negatives were discovered in 1995. Rock superstar Graham Nash, a photographer and collector himself, initiated the restoration of Bristol's life's work. At an advanced age, Bristol was recognized as one of the most important photographers of the 20th century, with work in major museums throughout North America.

Silver Medal, Houston International Film Festival, 1999
Silver Screen Award, U.S. International Film & Video Festival, 1999
CINE Golden Eagle, 1999

52 min. Video or DVD. Sale $295 Video rental $85.