The untold story of George Stout, the real-life inspiration for the character played by George Clooney in the film The Monuments Men, is now being shared with a worldwide audience through a new documentary called Stout Hearted: George Stout and the Guardians of Art. Filmmaker Kevin Kelley and producer Marie Wilkes, founders of the non-profit organization New Mile Media Arts, are behind the project.
The 81-minute documentary premiered in Stout’s hometown of Winterset on March 30, 2019, and quickly gained popularity. It sold out all three screenings the following week at FilmScene in Iowa City and has since been showcased at 20 film festivals around the world. Now, it is available for anyone to watch on the Heritage Broadcasting Service, a subscription video-on-demand platform.
George Stout, born in 1897, witnessed the impact of war on art and culture while serving in World War I. This experience led him to study art and English at the University of Iowa, where he later taught. He furthered his education at Harvard University, specializing in the application of science to art restoration. Stout became renowned for his work on color spectroscopy, paint composition, authentication methods, and the influence of atmospheric conditions on art.
During World War II, Stout played a significant role in the creation of the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas, also known as the Roberts Commission. He served as a Monuments Man, responsible for finding and rescuing millions of pieces of artwork stolen by Hitler and the Nazis. After the war, Stout went to Japan to protect the country’s cultural heritage from being sold or stolen.
The documentary explores Stout’s passion for art conservation and his visionary approach to preserving cultural heritage. It features interviews with experts, including Robert Morse Edsel, the founder of the Monuments Men Foundation, and Lynn H. Nicholas, author of The Rape of Europa. Kelley and Wilkes, with a budget under $50,000, conducted extensive research and traveled for interviews to create this compelling film.
Kelley and Wilkes are already working on their next documentary project, focusing on the life of Elizabeth Catlett, a sculptor, printmaker, educator, and social activist who studied at the University of Iowa. Their production company, New Mile Media Arts, aims to present stories of ordinary people in extraordinary situations, often with an Iowa connection.
Stout Hearted: George Stout and the Guardians of Art offers a unique glimpse into the life of a remarkable man and sheds light on the importance of preserving our cultural heritage. With its worldwide availability, this documentary ensures that George Stout’s legacy will reach audiences around the globe and inspire future generations to appreciate and protect art.
