Navajo

US (1952): Documentary/Drama

This is a 70-minute documentary focused on the life of a Navajo boy. The narrative follows his education by his adopted grandfather, the death of the latter, and the boy's absorption against his will into a white man's school where two teachers try to befriend him. He runs away and leads them into a canyon he knows. Here he sets a trap which corners the older men on a ledge. The boy leaves, content to leave them there, then reminded of the gift of one of them, decides not to "think black thoughts or do black deeds" against the white man, but to attempt to get along with him. The film ends abruptly as he runs to get help for the stranded teachers.

This is the third documentary to be nominated by the Academy in a category other than Best Documentary -- the others were Louisiana Story and The Quiet One (both 1948), each of which were nominated for Original Story). Navajo was nominated for Best Documentary and also Best Black and White Cinematography, which is certainly one of its greatest assets. Vistas of mesas and canyons, cloud formations etc. with man dwarfed against their majesty and good composition highlight the work of cameraman Virgil Miller. Like the other two documentaries mentioned above, the score and the editing are top notch also and deserved Oscar consideration. An unusual oddity, enjoyable by the whole family. Written and directed by Norman Foster for Lippert Pictures. Francis Teller received a special Goldon Globe for the Best Juvenile Actor. (Arne Andersen, IMDb)

· Cinematography (Black and White) 1952: Virgil E. Miller
· Documentary (Features) 1952: Hall Bartlett, producer

2 nominations