IllinoisJones
Displaying My Ears
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2009
- Messages
- 118
Walt's first venture into the world of feature length documentary filmmaking is an historical one. The Living Desert is recognized by the United States Film Registry for being considered culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. Some say it created the standard format for modern day nature docs. This was part of Disney's successful True-Life Adventures series. The Living Desert was one of many TLAs directed by James Algar. It takes place in Tucson, Arizona. It opens with beautiful animation of a map of the Southwest which sets the stage perfectly. It is loaded with creatures of all desert sizes but the stars are the gross scorpions and snakes. There's even a hoedown dance scene featuring the scorpions. The time-lapse photography of the flowers blooming was mesmerizing. We would find out later, Walt was more concerned with story rather than truth in the case of this film. Some staging may have taken place. But that's probably because the movie would have been beyond boring without some spicing up. I enjoy the carefully crafted music, the voice over work of Winston Hibler and just watching these inhabitants of the dessert. Disney trivia sidebar. This is the first film distributed by Disney under Buena Vista. RKO wanted nothing to do with distributing a Disney documentary. So Walt and his team did it themselves. As far as nature films go, it's entertaining. I give it 3 grains of sand out of 5.
