Why did Samuel Bronston work as a Vatican photographer?

After struggling to raise financing for Hollywood film projects, producer Samuel Bronston left Hollywood and began working as a photographer for the Vatican. During this period, he explored the Vatican archives and produced at least 26 documentary films. He eventually returned to Hollywood and later relocated his production company to Madrid to make historical epics.

What we know

• Samuel Bronston left Hollywood after struggling to raise financing for his film projects. [2, 3]
• While working for the Vatican as a photographer, Bronston produced at least 26 documentary films. [2]
• During his time with the Vatican, Bronston explored the Vatican's archives. [2]
• After his time at the Vatican, Bronston returned to Hollywood in 1955 as an independent producer. [2, 3]

Where to go next

• what caused itHow did Samuel Bronston build his film studio?
• what followedWhat caused Samuel Bronston to declare bankruptcy?
• how it workedHow did Samuel Bronston finance his historical epic films?
• whoWho was financier Pierre S. du Pont III?
• a case in pointHow was King of Kings produced in 1961?
• an unexpected connectionHow did a Vatican photographer end up in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court perjury case?The filmmaker who once documented Vatican archives later stood trial and won an acquittal at the U.S. Supreme Court over a perjury charge stemming from his bankruptcy proceedings.

Sources

• [1]Samuel Bronston (Wikidata Q706968) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Samuel Bronston · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Samuel Bronston Productions · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]King of Kings (1961 film) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]The Greatest Story Ever Told · CC BY-SA 4.0