1954's 'The Vanishing Prairie' is the second feature length film of Disney's 1948-1960 True Life Adventures series. Following on from 'The Living Desert', which is very good if not outstanding and a nature documentary milestone at the time. Being somebody who loves Disney and nature documentaries, as well as someone who was intrigued by films mixing the two and that it got award recognition at the time. Including the Best Documentary Feature Oscar.
An Oscar that actually was not undeserved. Like 'The Living Desert', it was unlike any other nature documentary at the time and the competition that year for the category was not large. Like 'The Living Desert' 'The Vanishing Prairie' is very good if not outstanding, which actually was the general standard of the feature films in the True Life Adventures films (do prefer the short subjects personally), and it is fascinating. Well worth the watch if curious as to how old nature documentaries were like at the time and how they come over now and how Disney did them.
'The Vanishing Prairie' is not perfect. It does go a little overboard on the jokey humour, so it can become corny in parts. While there is never anything here that is on the same level of manipulative as the scorpion mating dance in 'The Living Desert' and especially the lemmings scene in 'White Wilderness', occasionally the content was on the forced side.
However, 'The Vanishing Prairie' looks wonderful, the colour photography is so vivid in colour and never static. Showing the majestic scenery, both beautiful and uncompromising, in all its glory. Really liked the music on the whole, which was a mix of grand and catchy even if it occasionally over-emphasised the humorous moments. The animals, wonderfully varied, are a mix of adorable, sinister and fun to watch.
On the whole, the information presented is very entertaining and informative. The footage is beautifully shot and has a strong mix of emotions, boasting some memorable scenes. The bison birth sequence is a beautiful, poignant moment and one of my favourite sequences of the whole True Life Adventures series. Winston Hibler's delivery was not an issue to me, nicely deadpan at times but also always good natured.
Very good on the whole. 8/10.
An Oscar that actually was not undeserved. Like 'The Living Desert', it was unlike any other nature documentary at the time and the competition that year for the category was not large. Like 'The Living Desert' 'The Vanishing Prairie' is very good if not outstanding, which actually was the general standard of the feature films in the True Life Adventures films (do prefer the short subjects personally), and it is fascinating. Well worth the watch if curious as to how old nature documentaries were like at the time and how they come over now and how Disney did them.
'The Vanishing Prairie' is not perfect. It does go a little overboard on the jokey humour, so it can become corny in parts. While there is never anything here that is on the same level of manipulative as the scorpion mating dance in 'The Living Desert' and especially the lemmings scene in 'White Wilderness', occasionally the content was on the forced side.
However, 'The Vanishing Prairie' looks wonderful, the colour photography is so vivid in colour and never static. Showing the majestic scenery, both beautiful and uncompromising, in all its glory. Really liked the music on the whole, which was a mix of grand and catchy even if it occasionally over-emphasised the humorous moments. The animals, wonderfully varied, are a mix of adorable, sinister and fun to watch.
On the whole, the information presented is very entertaining and informative. The footage is beautifully shot and has a strong mix of emotions, boasting some memorable scenes. The bison birth sequence is a beautiful, poignant moment and one of my favourite sequences of the whole True Life Adventures series. Winston Hibler's delivery was not an issue to me, nicely deadpan at times but also always good natured.
Very good on the whole. 8/10.