Career
He is also known for his work as a photographer and film critic, and for his 15 year relationship with New York City painter Alice Neel. Born on January 1, 1907 to Russian Jewish immigrant parents in England, Brody was raised in London, Paris, Richmond (Virginia) and New York City. Brody took an early interest in political activism and documentary films.
In May, 1930 he wrote in The Daily Worker what would become a rallying cry for left wing filmmakers:
“I want once more to emphasize the newsfilm is the important thing.
That the capitalist class knows that there are certain things that it cannot afford to have shown. lieutenant is afraid of some pictures..”
If the capitalist class fears pictures and prevents us from seeing records of events like the March 6 unemployment demonstration and the Sacco-Vanzetti trial we will equip our own cameramen and make our own films.”
In 1931 Brody and several others formed the Workers Film and Photo League, variously acting as cameramen, teachers and political theoreticians.
In addition to his league activities, he was a regular contributor of film criticism and commentary to various left wing publications, including the Daily Worker and Experimental Cinema. In 1940 Brody met artist Alice Neel, beginning a complicated, sometimes controversial, on and off affair that would end in 1955.
They had one son, Hartley Neel, in 1941.
Brody remained friends with Neel until her death in 1984. They had one son, David, in 1958. Brody continued to make films and take photographs until his death from a fall on September 9, 1987 at the family home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
