Director
Ralph Steiner
127 years · Cleveland, Ohio, USA · 11 films
Ralph Steiner (February 8, 1899 – July 13, 1986) was an American photographer, pioneering documentarian, and a prominent figure in the avant-garde film movement of the 1930s. Known for his innovative approach to visual storytelling, Steiner's work in both still photography and film helped shape the development of American documentary filmmaking. He is perhaps best remembered for his groundbreaking films like H2O (1933) and The City (1939), which showcased his unique ability to merge aesthetics with social and environmental themes. His avant-garde style, blending abstract imagery with real-world subjects, pushed the boundaries of both documentary and experimental cinema. Throughout his career, Steiner was deeply committed to using film as a means to reflect the complexities of modern life and human experience.
Best known for
Filmography 11
Slowdown
1975 · Director
Look Park
1974 · Director
The City
1939 · Director, Cinematography
The World Today: The Black Legion - Shadow of Fascism Over America
1937 · Director, Cinematography
The Plow That Broke the Plains
1936 · Cinematography
Pie in the Sky
1935 · Actor, Director
Hands
1934 · Director
Panther Woman of the Needle Trades, or The Lovely Life of Little Lisa
1931 · Director
Surf and Seaweed
1931 · Director
Mechanical Principles
1930 · Director
On Kanopy
H₂O
1929 · Director, Cinematography