Product Details

• Actors: Alfre Woodard, David Brower, Floyd Dominy, Barry Goldwater, Robert Towne
• Directors: Jon Else, Linda Harrar
• Writers: Jon Else, Marc Reisner, Sandra Postel
• Producers: Jon Else, Linda Harrar, Dan McCann, Jonathan Halperin, Jonathan T. Taplin
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Homevision / KTEH / PBS / Columbia
• VHS Release Date: June 16, 2000
• Run Time: 55 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0780019296
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,553 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

California produces much of America's food on some of its most arid land, the San Joaquin Valley. How did this happen? The Mercy of Nature tells the story of the politicians and engineers who created the largest system of water works ever executed, providing practically free water to farmers in the basin. Interviews and newsreel footage combine with haunting portraits of the miles of highway and acres of fields to bring the valley's story to life. The machinations of big business to exploit the government, the water, and the land are exposed, as well as the party-killing political atmosphere following revelations of pesticide buildup and cost overruns. Vivid, beautiful, and funny at times, this is a moving tribute to the small-time farmers who were there before the big projects and will remain after they're gone. Like the rest of the Cadilllac Desert series, The Mercy of Nature reminds us of our limits. --Rob Lightner

Product Description

This informative look at water politics traces the fierce battles that raged around the transformation of California's Central Valley from semiarid desert into the most environmentally altered agricultural region in history.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential information for understanding western politics., January 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cadillac Desert - Water and the Transformation of Nature: Boxed Set (Includes Chinatown 1974 Feature Film) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Essential information for understanding western politics. Essential information for anyone interested in agriculture and/or environmental problems in the western United States.

Gives a concise history of water resource development in the west. Describes how water projects became epitome of what we know as pork barrel politics.

This series is based on a book of the same name by Mark Reisner. The film is a good synopsis of the book but for any one who enjoys the film I strongly suggest also reading the book. The book covers so much more information and gives many more startling examples.

For any one in the buisness of natural resource conservation or preservation I would suggest this documentary and the book as required materials.

For anyone in the agriculture buisness I would suggest the film as required and urge you to read the book if interested in the topic.

I grew up on a family farm and have since moved in to the field of fisheries biology. I have seen how difficult it is for small farmers to survive, I have also seen how most of our native fishes are failing to survive. Both of these tragedies result, in part, from large agribuisness which is a direct product of the large federal projects you will see in this documentary.

Buy it, and enjoy learning. Knowledge is power!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good companion, April 3, 2004

By 

Bryan Pearson (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cadillac Desert (Complete Series; 4 Tape Set) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Marc Reisner's book is certainly superior, packed with eye-opening information about the evolution of water policy. Read that first.

Having said that, this video series is a fine companion, and shows a lot that just can't be illustrated in the book. Among the real treasures is footage of the profoundly beautiful Glen Canyon before it was flooded, and footage of a dam burst in action. And after reading about the larger-than-life Floyd Dominy, it's an absurd hoot to hear him declare in an interview, "Those Indians treated me with more reverance than the Buddha!"

The first three volumes follow much of what Reisner explored in the book, and he is an enthusiastic, wise presence in many video snippets. The fourth volume focuses more on worldwide water issues, and is based on a different book, "Last Oasis".

I also finally watched the movie Chinatown, which wasn't very historically accurate, and seemed to be less about water policy than about twisted family history. But screenwriter Robert Townsend weighs in with some compelling commentary in this video series.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing and Vital History!!, September 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cadillac Desert - Water and the Transformation of Nature: Boxed Set (Includes Chinatown 1974 Feature Film) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This series is entertaining, dramtic, smart, important and true! The boxed set even comes with the feature film "Chinatown"