Customer Reviews

Cadillac Desert: The Mercy of Nature (Water and the Transformation of Nature) [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
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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!

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.

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

Water policy is now becoming a hot issue not only locally, but worldwide. This is an episode of a landmark PBS series produced in the 1990's that looked at the relationship between water and the development of the west. This episode- the final of the series looks ahead at water shortage, limitation and he implications for our culture and specifically the SW US. Not ever released on DVD to my knowledge, out of print and not available on iTunes, Amazon video or elsewhere. This is it- VHS or nothing.

Based upon the late Marc Reisner's book of the same name.

I have seen this video 3 or 4 times during and since college and it amazes me every time I veiw it. Man's arrogance towards nature is very saddening. This is a very good example from both sides of the board on water conservation. It shows what there views were then and what they are now are and how they have changed. I would reccomend this to anyone especailly those who think that water/power is a never ending resource, and those who take conservation lightly.