Saul J. Turell
Directing
Biography
Saul J. Turell (January 20, 1921 – April 10, 1986) was a producer and maker of documentaries, and a distributor for classic film. He founded Sterling Films in 1946. In the early sixties, Sterling Films merged with the Walter Reade Organization, becoming Reade-Sterling, of which Turell was president. In 1965, Turell and William J. Becker took over the ailing Janus Films. The same year, Turell directed The Love Goddesses, released by Walter Reade and Paramount Pictures with the subtitle "A History of Sex in the Cinema". He won an Academy Award in 1980 in the category Best Documentary Short Subject for Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist.
Known For
A documentary of Hollywood's first great Latin Lover, the contradictions in his personal life, and his premature death.
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
This insightful documentary features some of the major and most beautiful actresses to grace the silver screen. It shows how the movie industry changed its depiction of sex and actresses' portrayal of sex from the silent movie era to the present. Classic scenes are shown from the silent movie 'True Heart Susie,' starring Lillian Gish, to 'Love Me Tonight' (1932), blending sex and sophistication, starring Jeanette MacDonald (pre-Nelson Eddy), and to Elizabeth Taylor in 'A Place in the Sun' (1951), plus much , much more.
The Love Goddesses
A documentary about the film roles of British actor Alec Guinness. Volume 8 in a series produced by Janus Films.
The Art of Film: The Many Roles of Alec Guinness
This Academy Award-winning documentary short Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist, narrated by Sidney Poitier, traces the career of Paul Robeson through his activism and his socially charged performances of his signature song, “Ol’ Man River.”
Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist
A rollicking compendium of the greatest hits of silent-cinema chase sequences
The Great Chase
Documentary about the early British films by director Alfred Hitchcock.
The Art of Film: Vintage Hitchcock
A cartoon depicting Spunky the Snowman's visit to Santa.