Semidocumentary is a form of book, film, or television program presenting a fictional story that incorporates many factual details or actual events, or which is presented in a manner similar to a documentary. Stylistically, it has certain similarities to Italian Neorealism, such as the use of location shooting and employing non-actors in secondary roles.

One of the first films of this kind was The House on 92nd Street (1945): Time used the term "semidocumentary" to describe this film in 1952 . The producer of the film had previously worked on newsreels which inspired the film making style.

In the late-1940s, semidocumentary films were often associated with film noir thrillers, sharing a commitment to on-location shooting, gritty realism, and understated performances. Several of Richard Fleischer's films had semidocumentary qualities; see external links below.

Some examples of movies that at least have some elements of a semidocumentary in their style:

• Armored Car Robbery (1950)

• Boomerang (1947)

• Bodyguard (1948)

• Call Northside 777 (1948)

• Dragnet (1951)

• He Walked by Night (1948)

• Highway 301 (1950)

• The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

• The House on 92nd Street (1945)

• Kiss of Death (1947)

• Mystery Street (1950)

• The Naked City (1948)

• On Dangerous Ground (1952)

• Panic in the Streets (1950)

• The Racket (1951)

• Side Street (1950)

• The Street with No Name (1948)

• The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967)

• T-Men (1947)

See also

Docudrama
Italian Neorealism