World Assembly of Youth (film)

The film was believed to be lost, however was recovered by Professor James Fenwick, though what evidence of Stanley Kubrick's involvement are limited to an early résumé sent by Stanley Kubrick to veteran New York film critic Theodore Huff in February 1953. In the résumé and covering letter, Kubrick lists working on this film alongside his other documentaries, The Seafarers, Day of the Fight, and Flying Padre. The résumé was uncovered by John Baxter, while doing research for his own book, Stanley Kubrick: A Biography.

A June 1952 article in the New York Times was also evidence by Baxter of Kubrick's involvement, the news article stating "The youthful producer-director, whose credits already include “The Day of the Fight” and “Flying Padre”, short subjects released by R.K.O., and a short on World Assembly of Youth, made for the State Department, has “a few stories he would like to film.” [2]

Baxter's research found that the film was sponsored by the United States Department of State and was one of a series of films intended to mobilize college-aged youngsters to carry out socially worthy projects. Baxter claimed this initiative ultimately led to the formation of the Peace Corps. While Baxter's claims of US Department of State involvement were true, what Baxter assumed was the influence they had with regards to the Peace Corps may have been overstated.

Hundreds of delegates from 65 countries arrived in Ithaca, New York, between August 6 and 16, 1951, to attend a Youth Assembly conference, the conference itself being held at Cornell University. The WAY representatives first stop on their tour of New York was at Hyde Park, New York, the estate of Eleanor Roosevelt.

There, a brief lunch was arranged and discussions were held by various reps. A short ceremony was held, with a representative from Japan placing a floral arrangement by FDR's grave.

World Assembly of Youth Cornell Event with Eleanor Roosevelt as speaker

They arrived later that day at Ithaca, and began their stay in the US. While diplomatic in nature, the film implies that part of their goal was also to share many of the luxuries and leisures that everyday Americans enjoyed, to inspire other nations to emulate the US free market economy.

The WAY event itself though was based entirely around the formation of a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the film showing that day in and day out, most of the goals of the conference were meant towards solidifying a resolution for the UN.

After workshops during the day, the evenings would have events that included exhibits of modern paintings[3] and speakers, one of such being Eleanor Roosevelt, and performances by the NBC Symphony Orchestra and Ballet from various theaters. The WAY event then closes out with their full intentions of the WAY working with the United Nations in order to work towards creating such Universal Human Rights. [4]

What is known about the production of the film is gathered from information presented by Historian Nicholas Morrish received from the American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming in part to a script found in the Richard De Rochemont collection. The script is dated February 12, 1952, and from Department of State records, the film was dated for release on July 1, 1952.

Kubrick's actual role in the film is uncertain.

Following the publication of Baxter's book, some readers misinterpreted the story as to believe there was an undiscovered film directed by Stanley Kubrick; this can be seen in myriad internet pages that credit Kubrick as director of World Assembly of Youth. Baxter himself has stated that his knowledge of Kubrick's involvement in this film is no more than the reference in his letter to Theodore Huff. Baxter speculates that Kubrick may have worked on the project as a cameraman or even simply a stills photographer.

There are no records with the National Archives of Stanley Kubrick working for the State Department, as requests state; "Stanley Kubrick does not appear in the NAME CARD INDEX to the 1950-54 segment of the Central Decimal File, part of RG 59: General Records of the Department of State"", and in other documents discovered by Historian Nicholas Morrish with regards to the WAY film, "No USIS attribution will appear on the prints. Sponsorship is being assumed by the Young Adults Council, which is the official American member group in W.A.Y.".

How Kubrick would have known the film was even made by the Department of State raises questions within itself if he was not otherwise involved, yet no evidence of his involvement exists. The same document previously mentioned discovered by Mr Morrish has also created controversy and further confusion on what Kubrick may or may not have worked on, as it states; "In addition to the subject film, the Department is also producing a second title on the W.A.Y. meeting, which will incorporate footage on the various tours of the delegates in the United States. No definite release date is yet available on this second production, but information that it will be distributed at a subsequent date may be given to any delegates of the groups that attended the Ithaca meeting who may inquire."

However, no evidence of a second film has ever been discovered and no other reference to any topic on World Assembly of Youth after exists or is available to the public from the Department of State.