The Spanish Earth

This jumbled and disjointed documentary by the Republican Government of Spain against the Nazi backed Fascist revolt by Franco's military has sufficient civilian carnage and idealism that must have inspired sideline support in its day. It is also a valuable document of eyewitness clarity that informs a mostly forgotten era during the rise of Fascism In Europe. Written and narrated by famed novelists Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos who would later break with each other over Republican practices the film's primitive construct sometimes acts as a metaphor for what was truly a chaotic conflict with poorly trained volunteers manning the front lines with incredible spirit against the well oiled Nazi backed machine. In its day though it must have served its purpose being played for sympathetic audiences cheering the principals and inspiring others to the cause.

Hemingway makes for a weak narrator and the editing and sound is pedestrian obfuscating the flow much of the time but the spirit and determination of this idealistic stand by a group branded as pre-mature anti-Fascists comes thru loud and clear.