A docudrama is a genre of radio and television programming, feature film,
A docudrama is a genre of radio and television programming, feature film,

and staged theatre, which features dramatized re-enactments of actual
and staged theatre, which features dramatized re-enactments of actual

events. On stage, it is sometimes known as documentary theatre.
events. On stage, it is sometimes known as documentary theatre.

In the core elements of its story a docudrama strives to adhere to known
In the core elements of its story a docudrama strives to adhere to known

historical facts, while allowing a greater or lesser degree of dramatic
historical facts, while allowing a greater or lesser degree of dramatic

license in peripheral details, and where there are gaps in the historical record.
license in peripheral details, and where there are gaps in the historical record.

Dialogue may include the actual words of real-life persons, as recorded in
Dialogue may include the actual words of real-life persons, as recorded in

historical documents. Docudrama producers sometimes choose to film their
historical documents. Docudrama producers sometimes choose to film their

reconstructed events in the actual locations in which the historical events
reconstructed events in the actual locations in which the historical events

occurred. A docudrama, in which historical
occurred. A docudrama, in which historical

fidelity is the keynote, is generally distinguished from a film merely "based
fidelity is the keynote, is generally distinguished from a film merely "based

on true events", a term which implies a greater degree of dramatic license; and
on true events", a term which implies a greater degree of dramatic license; and

from the concept of "historical drama", a broader category which may also
from the concept of "historical drama", a broader category which may also

encompass largely fictionalized action taking place in historical settings or
encompass largely fictionalized action taking place in historical settings or

against the backdrop of historical events.
against the backdrop of historical events.

As a neologism, the term docudrama is sometimes confused with docufiction.
As a neologism, the term docudrama is sometimes confused with docufiction.

However, unlike docufiction—which is essentially a documentary filmed in real
However, unlike docufiction—which is essentially a documentary filmed in real

time, incorporating some fictional elements—docudrama is filmed at a time
time, incorporating some fictional elements—docudrama is filmed at a time

subsequent to the events it portrays. Characteristics
subsequent to the events it portrays. Characteristics

Docudramas tend to demonstrate some or most of the following characteristics
Docudramas tend to demonstrate some or most of the following characteristics

Representation of actual historical events
Representation of actual historical events

Focus on the facts of the event, as they are known
Focus on the facts of the event, as they are known

Use of literary and narrative techniques to flesh out the bare facts of an event
Use of literary and narrative techniques to flesh out the bare facts of an event

in history to tell a story Some degree of license is often taken
in history to tell a story Some degree of license is often taken

with minor historical facts for the sake of enhancing the drama
with minor historical facts for the sake of enhancing the drama

Docudramas are distinct from historical fiction, in which the historical setting
Docudramas are distinct from historical fiction, in which the historical setting

is a mere backdrop for a plot involving fictional characters.
is a mere backdrop for a plot involving fictional characters.

History The impulse to incorporate historical
History The impulse to incorporate historical

material into literary texts has been an intermittent feature of literature in
material into literary texts has been an intermittent feature of literature in

the west since its earliest days. Aristotle's theory of art is based on
the west since its earliest days. Aristotle's theory of art is based on

the use of putatively historical events and characters. Especially after the
the use of putatively historical events and characters. Especially after the

development of modern mass-produced literature, there have been genres that
development of modern mass-produced literature, there have been genres that

relied on history or then-current events for material. English Renaissance drama,
relied on history or then-current events for material. English Renaissance drama,

for example, developed subgenres specifically devoted to dramatizing
for example, developed subgenres specifically devoted to dramatizing

recent murders and notorious cases of witchcraft.
recent murders and notorious cases of witchcraft.

However, docudrama as a separate category belongs to the second half of
However, docudrama as a separate category belongs to the second half of

the twentieth century. After World War II, Louis de Rochemont, creator of The
the twentieth century. After World War II, Louis de Rochemont, creator of The

March of Time, became a producer at 20th Century Fox. There he brought the
March of Time, became a producer at 20th Century Fox. There he brought the

newsreel aesthetic to films, producing a series of movies based upon real events
newsreel aesthetic to films, producing a series of movies based upon real events

using a realistic style that became known as semidocumentary. These films
using a realistic style that became known as semidocumentary. These films

were widely imitated, and the style soon became used even for completely
were widely imitated, and the style soon became used even for completely

fictional stories such as The Naked City. Perhaps the most significant of
fictional stories such as The Naked City. Perhaps the most significant of

the semidocumentary films was He Walked by Night, based upon the serial killer
the semidocumentary films was He Walked by Night, based upon the serial killer

Erwin "Machine-Gun" Walker. Jack Webb had a supporting role in the movie and
Erwin "Machine-Gun" Walker. Jack Webb had a supporting role in the movie and

struck up a friendship with the LAPD consultant, Sergeant Marty Wynn. The
struck up a friendship with the LAPD consultant, Sergeant Marty Wynn. The

film and his relationship with Wynn inspired Webb to create what became one
film and his relationship with Wynn inspired Webb to create what became one

of the most famous docudramas in history: Dragnet.
of the most famous docudramas in history: Dragnet.

The influence of New Journalism tended to create a license for authors to treat
The influence of New Journalism tended to create a license for authors to treat

with literary techniques material that might in an earlier age have been
with literary techniques material that might in an earlier age have been

approached in a purely journalistic way. Both Truman Capote and Norman Mailer
approached in a purely journalistic way. Both Truman Capote and Norman Mailer

were influenced by this movement, and Capote's In Cold Blood is arguably the
were influenced by this movement, and Capote's In Cold Blood is arguably the

most famous example of the genre. American television
most famous example of the genre. American television

Some docudrama examples for American television include Brian's Song, and
Some docudrama examples for American television include Brian's Song, and

Roots. Brian's Song is the biography of Brian Piccolo, a Chicago Bears football
Roots. Brian's Song is the biography of Brian Piccolo, a Chicago Bears football

player who died at a young age after battling cancer. Roots depicts the life
player who died at a young age after battling cancer. Roots depicts the life

of a slave and his family. Docudramas
of a slave and his family. Docudramas

Historic evolution = Radio =
Historic evolution = Radio =

The March of Time The Fifth Horseman
The March of Time The Fifth Horseman

= Films = The March of Time
= Films = The March of Time

Call Northside 777 Children of Hiroshima
Call Northside 777 Children of Hiroshima

The Wrong Man A Night to Remember
The Wrong Man A Night to Remember

The Gallant Hours Judgment at Nuremberg
The Gallant Hours Judgment at Nuremberg

The Longest Day Culloden
The Longest Day Culloden

Cathy Come Home In Cold Blood
Cathy Come Home In Cold Blood

Tora! Tora! Tora! 10 Rillington Place
Tora! Tora! Tora! 10 Rillington Place

The Missiles of October All the President's Men
The Missiles of October All the President's Men

Pumping Iron King
Pumping Iron King

Threads Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C.
Threads Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C.

Banks Seacoal
Banks Seacoal

Life Story Goodfellas
Life Story Goodfellas

Dien Bien Phu Ed Wood
Dien Bien Phu Ed Wood

Quiz Show Apollo 13
Quiz Show Apollo 13

Nixon Hillsborough
Nixon Hillsborough

Pirates of Silicon Valley The Insider
Pirates of Silicon Valley The Insider

Thirteen Days The Pianist
Thirteen Days The Pianist

Bloody Sunday The Laramie Project
Bloody Sunday The Laramie Project

The Story of the Weeping Camel Touching the Void
The Story of the Weeping Camel Touching the Void

The Last Dragon Cinderella Man
The Last Dragon Cinderella Man

End Day Good Night, and Good Luck
End Day Good Night, and Good Luck

Supervolcano Bobby
Supervolcano Bobby

Hollywoodland Krakatoa: The Last Days
Hollywoodland Krakatoa: The Last Days

The 9/11 Commission Report United 93
The 9/11 Commission Report United 93

Rescue Dawn Breach
Rescue Dawn Breach

Charlie Wilson's War A Mighty Heart
Charlie Wilson's War A Mighty Heart

Zodiac Che
Zodiac Che

The Beckoning Silence Frost/Nixon
The Beckoning Silence Frost/Nixon

John Adams The Lena Baker Story
John Adams The Lena Baker Story

The Informant! Public Enemies
The Informant! Public Enemies

The Fighter 127 Hours
The Fighter 127 Hours

Fair Game No Place on Earth
Fair Game No Place on Earth

The Attacks of 26/11 Captain Phillips
The Attacks of 26/11 Captain Phillips

Enemy of the Reich: The Noor Inayat Khan Story
Enemy of the Reich: The Noor Inayat Khan Story

America: Imagine the World Without Her Heaven Is for Real
America: Imagine the World Without Her Heaven Is for Real

Bridge of Spies = Television =
Bridge of Spies = Television =

Culloden The War Game
Culloden The War Game

Death of a Princess Egypt
Death of a Princess Egypt

Space Race The Road to Guantanamo
Space Race The Road to Guantanamo

Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire
Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire

Nuclear Secrets Heroes and Villains
Nuclear Secrets Heroes and Villains

House of Saddam Micro Men
House of Saddam Micro Men

Moonshiners The Men Who Built America
Moonshiners The Men Who Built America

Mabo An Adventure in Space and Time
Mabo An Adventure in Space and Time

Code of a Killer See also
Code of a Killer See also

Docufiction Dramality
Docufiction Dramality

Ethnofiction Mockumentary
Ethnofiction Mockumentary

Fly on the wall Factual television
Fly on the wall Factual television

Reality television Peter Watkins, a pioneer of docudrama
Reality television Peter Watkins, a pioneer of docudrama

List of historical drama films List of Asian historical drama films
List of historical drama films List of Asian historical drama films

References Bibliography
References Bibliography

Hellmann, John. Fables of Fact: The New Journalism as New Fiction. Urbana:
Hellmann, John. Fables of Fact: The New Journalism as New Fiction. Urbana:

University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252008472.
University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252008472.

Kazin, Alfred. Bright Book of Life: American Hot Dogs and Storytellers from
Kazin, Alfred. Bright Book of Life: American Hot Dogs and Storytellers from

Hemingway to Mailer. Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN 0316484180.
Hemingway to Mailer. Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN 0316484180.

Lipkin, Steven N., ed.. Real Emotional Logic: Film and Television Docudrama As
Lipkin, Steven N., ed.. Real Emotional Logic: Film and Television Docudrama As

Persuasive Practice. Carbondale: Southern Illinois Press. ISBN
Persuasive Practice. Carbondale: Southern Illinois Press. ISBN

978-0-8093-2409-5. Lukács, György. Mitchell, Hannah;
978-0-8093-2409-5. Lukács, György. Mitchell, Hannah;

Mitchell, Stanley, eds. The Historical Novel. London: Merlin Press.
Mitchell, Stanley, eds. The Historical Novel. London: Merlin Press.

Paget, Derek. No Other Way to Tell It: Dramadoc/docudrama on television.
Paget, Derek. No Other Way to Tell It: Dramadoc/docudrama on television.

Manchester: Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-8446-1.
Manchester: Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-8446-1.

Rhodes, Gary Don; Springer, John Parris, eds.. Docufictions: Essays on the
Rhodes, Gary Don; Springer, John Parris, eds.. Docufictions: Essays on the

intersection of documentary and fictional filmmaking. London: McFarland
intersection of documentary and fictional filmmaking. London: McFarland

& Co. ISBN 978-0-7864-2184-8. Roscoe, Jane; Hight, Craig. Faking it:
& Co. ISBN 978-0-7864-2184-8. Roscoe, Jane; Hight, Craig. Faking it:

Mock-documentary and the subversion of factuality. Manchester: Manchester
Mock-documentary and the subversion of factuality. Manchester: Manchester

University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-5641-3.
University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-5641-3.

Rosenthal, Alan. Writing Docudrama: dramatizing reality for film and TV.
Rosenthal, Alan. Writing Docudrama: dramatizing reality for film and TV.

Boston, Mass.: Focal Press. ISBN 0240801954.
Boston, Mass.: Focal Press. ISBN 0240801954.

Rosenthal, Alan. Why Docudrama?: Fact-Fiction on Film and TV. Carbondale
Rosenthal, Alan. Why Docudrama?: Fact-Fiction on Film and TV. Carbondale

& Edwardsville: Southern Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-8093-2186-5.
& Edwardsville: Southern Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-8093-2186-5.

Siegle, Robert. "Capote's Hand-Carved Coffins and the Nonfiction Novel".
Siegle, Robert. "Capote's Hand-Carved Coffins and the Nonfiction Novel".

Contemporary Literature 25: 437–451. doi:10.2307/1208055.
Contemporary Literature 25: 437–451. doi:10.2307/1208055.

Stavreva, Kirilka. "Fighting Words: Witch-speak in Late Elizabethan
Stavreva, Kirilka. "Fighting Words: Witch-speak in Late Elizabethan

Docu-fiction". Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies 30: 309–338.
Docu-fiction". Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies 30: 309–338.

doi:10.1215/10829636-30-2-309. White, Hayden. Tropics of Discourse:
doi:10.1215/10829636-30-2-309. White, Hayden. Tropics of Discourse:

Essays in Cultural Criticism. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN
Essays in Cultural Criticism. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN

0801821274. External links
0801821274. External links

British Film Institute paper on British drama-documentary
British Film Institute paper on British drama-documentary

Docudrama: the realtory by Çiçek Coşkun: unpublished academic paper
Docudrama: the realtory by Çiçek Coşkun: unpublished academic paper

Docudrama at BookRags
Docudrama at BookRags