Paul F. Heard
{{Short description|American film director (1913–1964)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Paul F. Heard
| image = Paul F. Heard discusses "Second Chance".jpg
| alt =
| caption = Heard in December 1949
| birth_name = Paul Frederic Heard
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1913|10|14}}
| birth_place = Olivia, Minnesota, US
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1964|02|27|1913|10|14}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California
| nationality = American
| other_names =
| alma_mater = Lawrence College
University of Minnesota
| occupation = Film producer, director, scriptwriter
| years_active = 1938–1963
| known for = Religious films
| notable_works =
| spouse = Gwendolin Vandarwarka
}}
Paul Frederic Heard (October 14, 1913{{spnd}}February 27, 1964) was an American film producer, director, and scriptwriter of religious films. From 1946 to 1951 he served as executive director of the Protestant Film Commission, which produced short films for distribution to denominational churches across the United States and Canada. He then formed his own independent production house for religious films. His short film Kenji Comes Home (1949) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Early life and education
Paul Frederic Heard was born on October 14, 1913, in Olivia, Minnesota.{{cite web |url= https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGT2-VLD|title= California Death Index, 1940-1997|publisher=FamilySearch| year=2020|accessdate=May 5, 2020}}{{sfn|International Television Almanac|1982|p=114}} His father, Rev. J. W. Heard, and grandfather, Rev. C. M. Heard, were both Methodist ministers.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50278506/the-post-crescent/ |title=Lawrence '88 Graduate Is Guest of Honor at Luncheon|newspaper=The Post-Crescent|date=October 11, 1941|page=10|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
Heard studied at Lawrence College, his father's alma mater, from 1929 to 1931.{{sfn|International Television Almanac|1982|p=114}} He enrolled at the University of Minnesota from 1933 until his graduation in 1935,{{sfn|International Television Almanac|1982|p=114}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50279479/the-post-crescent/|title=Lawrence Graduate Will Become Bride Of New York Man|newspaper=The Post-Crescent|date=September 2, 1941|page=8|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} studying film production in the school's visual education department.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50280290/star-tribune/|title='The Lost Weekend' Due Feb. 14; Plushy Preview Set Thursday|first=Bob|last=Murphy|newspaper=The Star Tribune|date=January 27, 1946|page=38|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
Career
From 1938 to 1940, Heard worked as a production supervisor in the University of Minnesota's visual education department.{{sfn|International Television Almanac|1982|p=114}} In 1940,{{sfn|International Television Almanac|1982|p=114}} he became director of films for the Methodist Church's national board of missions in New York. From 1942 to 1945, he was Orientation Film Officer for the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C.{{sfn|International Television Almanac|1982|p=114}} In the latter capacity, he produced training and propaganda films for the United States Navy.{{sfn|Romanowski|2012|p=114}}
In 1945, Heard was appointed executive director of the newly formed Protestant Film Commission.{{sfn|International Television Almanac|1982|p=114}}{{sfn|Romanowski|2012|p=114}} At that time, he commented that "similar techniques" as those used in government propaganda films could be applied to religious films to bring about "spiritual realizations" regarding the challenges of modern life.{{sfn|Romanowski|2012|p=114}}
When the Protestant Film Commission merged with the Protestant Radio Commission to form the Broadcasting and Film Commission (BFC) of the National Council of Churches of Christ in December 1950,{{cite web |url=https://www.history.pcusa.org/collections/research-tools/guides-archival-collections/ncc-rg-16|title=Guide to the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America Broadcasting and Film Commission Records|publisher=Presbyterian Historical Society|year=2019|accessdate=April 29, 2020}} Heard was named director of films in the new organization.{{sfn|International Television Almanac|1982|p=114}}{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49904836/the-los-angeles-times/|title=Gene Kelly Experting as Scout; Dana Andrews's Brother in Japan Film|first=Edwin|last=Schallert|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 17, 1951|page=31| via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} But in 1951, he resigned in order to become an independent producer of Christian films.{{sfn|Romanowski|2012|p=19}} He was president of Paul F. Heard Inc, a motion picture production company, until 1963.{{ sfn|International Television Almanac|1982|p=114}} In 1954, the Los Angeles Times called Paul F. Heard Inc. "one of the big three producers of religious films", and said that Heard had had a hand in the production of hundreds of films for this sector.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50291569/the-los-angeles-times/|title=Religious Films Called Supplement to Pastors|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=April 4, 1954|page=50|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} Heard entered the television market in the early 1950s with the production of a 13-part series of short films titled What's Your Troubles, featuring Dr. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8R4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27|title=New TV-Film Series in Production|magazine=Billboard|date=September 6, 1952|page=27}}
Honors and awards
At the 22nd Academy Awards, Heard's production Kenji Comes Home was nominated for Best Documentary Feature; it lost to the British documentary Daybreak in Udi.{{cite web |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1950|title=The 22nd Academy Awards – 1950|year=2019|accessdate=May 5, 2020|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences}}
We Hold These Truths (1952), a Paul F. Heard Inc. production, was named best film in its category at a Stamford, Connecticut, film festival.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50292246/nashville-banner/|title=Films Help Solve Problems Via Religion|first=Paul F.|last=Heard|newspaper=Nashville Banner|date=August 7, 1953|page=26|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
Memberships
Heard was a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and of Toastmasters International.
Personal life
In October 1941, Heard's father officiated at his marriage to Gwendolin Vandarwarka in Appleton, Wisconsin. In 1950, his wife's mother moved to California and lived with them until her death a month after her 100th birthday in 1963.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50356905/the-post-crescent/|title=100th Birthday Observed by Former Resident|newspaper=The Post-Crescent|date=October 8, 1963|page=11|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50357128/the-los-angeles-times/|title=Obituaries|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 10, 1963|page=36|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
Heard died on February 27, 1964,{{cite web |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGBB-DLQG|title= California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994|publisher=FamilySearch|year=2020|accessdate=May 5, 2020}} aged 50, after undergoing surgery for cancer at Veterans Hospital in San Fernando.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50356321/des-moines-tribune/|title=Religious Film Producer Is Dead|agency=Associated Press|date=February 28, 1964|page=19|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} Funeral services were held at the Hollywood Congregational Church and burial took place at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50355848/the-los-angeles-times/|title=Vital Record|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 28, 1964|page=34|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
Selected filmography
- Kenji Comes Home (1949) – producer
- Prejudice (1949) – executive producer{{cite web |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26055-PREJUDICE?sid=f0a6fb3f-3f24-43c5-aa20-fbdd5882d7cf&sr=9.804476&cp=1&pos=1|title=Prejudice (1949)|work=AFI Catalog of Feature Films|publisher=American Film Institute|year=2019|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}
- Second Chance (1950) – producer{{sfn|Marshall|2005|p=339}}
- Again Pioneers (1950) – producer
- South of the Clouds (1950) – producer
- A Wonderful Life (1951) – producer{{sfn|Marshall|2005|p=342}}
- The Congregation (1951) – producer{{sfn|Marshall|2005|p=342}}
- More for Peace (1952) – producer
- We Hold These Truths (1952) – producer{{cite web |url= https://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/GUIDES/307.htm|title= Christian Films and Videos - Collection 307|publisher=Billy Graham Center|date=February 13, 2001|accessdate=May 5, 2020}}
- For Every Child (1953) – producer{{sfn|Marshall|2005|p=356}}
- City Story (1954) – producer{{sfn|Marshall|2005|p=347}}
- The Hidden Heart (1954) – producer{{sfn|Marshall|2005|p=347}}
- What Price Freedom? (1955) – director
- Hong Kong Affair (1958) – producer, director, co-writer{{cite web |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f71c689|title=Paul F. Heard Filmography|publisher=British Film Institute|year=2020|accessdate=May 5, 2020}}{{dead link|date=October 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{sfn|Blum|1959|p=146}}
- The Broken Mask (1958) – producer{{ sfn|International Television Almanac|1982|p=114}}
- The Secret of the Gift (1959) – producer, co-writer{{sfn|Marshall|2005|p=352}}
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=wejVMtvCBKIC&pg=PA146 |title=Screen World|year=1959|editor-first=Daniel|editor-last=Blum|publisher= Biblo & Tannen Publishers|isbn= 9780819602657}}
- {{cite book|ref={{harvid|International Television Almanac|1982}} |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ZRMdAAAAIAAJ&q=paul+f.+heard|title=International Television Almanac|year=1982|publisher= Quigley Publishing Company|isbn= 9780900610271}}
- {{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_oRkhAQAAIAAJ |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_oRkhAQAAIAAJ/page/n274 267]|title= Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1955: January-June|publisher=Copyright Office, Library of Congress|author=Library of Congress Copyright Office|year=1956}}
- {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fj5LUYOQ_RkC&pg=PA352|title=William Beaudine: From Silents to Television|first=Wendy L.|last=Marshall|year=2005|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810852181}}
- {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YZ9QI-t7TwUC&pg=PA114 |title=Reforming Hollywood: How American Protestants Fought for Freedom at the Movies|first=William D.|last=Romanowski|year=2012|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199969180}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0372465}}
- {{Find a Grave|19584}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heard, Paul F.}}
Category:Film producers from Minnesota
Category:Film producers from California
Category:Film directors from Minnesota
Category:Military personnel from Minnesota
Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II
Category:Screenwriters from Minnesota
Category:American male screenwriters
Category:People from Olivia, Minnesota
Category:Film directors from Los Angeles
Category:Lawrence University alumni
Category:University of Minnesota alumni
Category:20th-century American male writers