Watch Get the Picture

Get the Picture is a documentary film directed by Cathy Pearson and featuring the life story of John G. Morris, a renowned photo editor who worked in the industry for over half a century. The movie starts by painting a vivid picture of Morris's early years, which were marked by poverty and tragedy. We learn that Morris grew up in Illinois during the Great Depression and that he had to work hard from a young age to help his family make ends meet. At the age of 17, Morris joined the army and was stationed in Europe during World War II, where he witnessed some of the most devastating moments of the war, including the liberation of Dachau concentration camp.

It was during his time in the army that Morris discovered photography and started taking pictures of the war. After the war was over, Morris returned to the United States and enrolled in the University of Chicago, where he studied journalism. His first job in the industry was as a reporter for the Chicago Daily News, but he soon realized that his true passion was in photo editing.

In 1948, Morris landed a job as an assistant photo editor at Life Magazine, which was one of the most prestigious and influential magazines of the time. Morris quickly rose through the ranks and became one of the magazine's most trusted editors. In the documentary, we see Morris talking about some of the iconic photos he worked on, including Robert Capa's images from the D-Day invasion and W. Eugene Smith's photos of the mercury poisoning in Minamata, Japan.

Morris's career was not without controversy. In 1968, he made the decision to publish a photo from the My Lai massacre in Vietnam, which was a turning point in the public's perception of the war. Morris talks about the backlash he faced for publishing the photo and how he had to defend himself against accusations of being anti-war.

Throughout the documentary, we see Morris reflecting on his life and career, and we hear from some of his friends and colleagues, who describe him as a true visionary and mentor. Morris's daughter also appears in the movie and talks about the impact her father had on her life.

One of the most striking things about Get the Picture is how it makes us appreciate the importance of photo editing. Morris talks about how a single photo can tell a story and how it's the job of the editor to choose the right photos to convey that story. He also talks about how editing can be a collaborative process between the photographer and the editor, where the goal is to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Overall, Get the Picture is a fascinating and insightful documentary about one of the most important figures in photojournalism. Morris's life story is both inspiring and moving, and the movie does an excellent job of capturing his unique perspective on the power of photography. If you're interested in journalism, photography, or just love a good story, then this movie is definitely worth watching.

Get the Picture is a 2013 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 12 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9.