Sam Brody (January 1, 1907 – September 9, 1987) was an English-born founding member of the

Workers Film and Photo League The Workers Film and Photo League was an organization of filmmakers, photographers, writers and projectionists in the 1930s, dedicated to using film and photography for social change. History Founded in 1930, the WFPL produced documentaries of ...

, an independent organization founded in 1931 to produce and present films documenting the Great Depression from a Marxist perspective. He is also known for his work as a photographer and film critic, and for his 15-year relationship with New York City painter

Alice Neel Alice Neel (January 28, 1900 – October 13, 1984) was an American visual artist. Recognized for her paintings of friends, family, lovers, poets, artists, and strangers, Neel is considered one of the greatest American portraitists of the 20th ...

Biography

Born on January 1, 1907, to

Russian Jewish The history of the Jews in Russia and areas historically connected with it goes back at least 1,500 years. Jews in Russia have historically constituted a large religious and ethnic diaspora; the Russian Empire at one time hosted the largest po ...

immigrant parents in England, Brody was raised in London, Paris,

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

, and New York City. In 1927 he married artist Claire Gebiner with whom he had two children before the marriage ended in 1941. A son Julian was born in 1930 and a daughter Mady in 1937. Brody took an early interest in political activism and documentary films. In May 1930 he wrote in

The Daily Worker The ''Daily Worker'' was a newspaper published in Chicago founded by communists, socialists, union members, and other activists. Publication began in 1924. It generally reflected the prevailing views of members of the Communist Party USA (CPU ...

what later became a rallying cry for left-wing filmmakers: In 1931 Brody and several others formed the

, variously acting as cameramen, teachers and political theoreticians. In addition to his league activities, he was a regular contributor of film criticism and commentary to various left wing publications, including the

Daily Worker The ''Daily Worker'' was a newspaper published in Chicago founded by communists, socialists, union members, and other activists. Publication began in 1924. It generally reflected the prevailing views of members of the Communist Party USA (CPU ...

and Experimental Cinema. In 1940 Brody met artist

, beginning a complicated, sometimes controversial, on and off affair that ended in 1955. They had one son, Hartley Neel, in 1941. Brody remained friends with Neel until her death in 1984. In 1955, Brody met and soon married photographer Sondra Herrera. They had one son, David, in 1958. Brody continued to make films and take photographs until his death from a fall on September 9, 1987, at the family home in

Old Saybrook, Connecticut Old Saybrook is a New England town, town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut, Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. The population was 10, ...

References

http://www.sambrody.com/
http://www.aliceneel.com/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Brody, Sam Film directors from Connecticut 1907 births 1987 deaths English emigrants to the United States