The Hellstrom Chronicle - Part 1

[2112BLACKSABBATH]

y dont we eat the insects ,,,,protein, abundance huh huh

[anthonybabington]

"Many animals were killed during the making of this documentary".

I came here expecting to see a sci-fi movie. Well, I did !

Thanx.

[shoshenkis]

sorry I love documentaris, especially the ones about insects but this one is just too old and too space (LSD much ?) to entice me.

[cc47cc]

My 8th grade science teacher made us watch this, almost 15 years ago. Completely random, and pretty terrifying for a class of 13 yr olds...

[heartlessmushroom]

The intro was rather chilling. Not only because of its conentnt, but because on the way it was delivered.

[witchman67]

this was also shown on tv, on PBS, think, circa 1973.

I remember watching it with my Father and two older brothers.

Thanks for the post.

[PuuberZ]

Just finished Frank Herberts version on Audiobook, fantastic listen it made my time at work fly by.

[WimGrundy]

We have met the enemy and they will win. Can't we all just . . .get along? Thanks a million sugar ants for posting this! Grotesque variations, inDEED....

[WimGrundy]

We have met the enemy and they will win. Can't we all just . . .get along?

[binacaapostle]

"The Earth was created not with the gentle caress of love but with the brutal violence of rape." *EXPLOSION!*

[psychonautpsychosis]

I wonder if 2:03-2:04 is Daphnia

[MrMinja1445]

Watch this stoned hahaha.

[travisrlel]

3 offended ants pressed the don't like button.

[MINARD734]

Wow this is crazy haha! I'm really into Entomology!

[TheJomogogo]

OK now I remember...this was a nature film that was heavily advertised as a sci-fi movie in order to snag more viewers. It worked because it was so interesting & well done people didn't care they'd been sucked in on a false premise .

[TheJomogogo]

I saw this in 1973, forgot all about it, I remember being impressed with it, thanks for posting it. It'll be interesting to see how it compares to my memory from almost 40 years ago.

[izerkudie89]

this guys a douche bag

[TRKoneAD2]

Amazon still waiting for DVD format...

[ebs2323]

hellstrom gives me the crazy scientist vibe. big time

[Boldshane]

Of the billions of living things on Earth, only Man ponders his existence. His questions lead to torment, for he is unable to accept, as the insects do, that life's only purpose is life itself

THE HELLSTROM CHRONICLE

[Ceratohein]

Este video lo ví hace 10 años y marco mi vida, creando en mi, respeto por las más diminutas y poderosas creaturas de la tierra: los invertebrados. También un respeto por las palantas y por la vida misma. Y que tal vez no hay ni bien ni mal en la esencia misma de la creación, sino en la conciencia del hombre y sus extremos, sólo hay lucha por la superviviencia.

[Ceratohein]

Este video lo ví hace 10 años y marco mi vida, creando en mi, respeto por las más diminutas y poderosas creaturas de la tierra: los invertebrados. También un respeto por las palantas y por la vida misma. Y que tal vez no hay ni bien ni mal en la esencia misma de la creación, sino en la conciencia del hombre y sus extremos, sólo hay lucha por la superviviencia.

[jumpmonkey03]

@RandomConcepts Depends on the original quality, too. This sounds a little like the original from which it was copied was left in a dusty closet for thirty years.

[jumpmonkey03]

@RandomConcepts Yeah, it's called "1970s analog." It's an outdated format.

[56BUICKRiviera]

I saw this on the big screen when I was 11. Made an impression. The guy squirting bugs with a hose.

[56BUICKRiviera]

I saw this on the big screen when I was 11. Made an impression.

[Noodles37UK]

David Seltzer. The Omen.

[TheIronSheikSociety]

Almost 40 years after its first release, David Wolper I believe was the only one who passed away this past Summer 2010. The other folks are still alive to my knowledge. Crazy and interesting at the same time!!! Watch and watch again.

[Abrohill]

no entendí nada (el inglés) pero se ve SCAAAARY

[felcerita]

Thank you for putting this movie

[urdadurrr]

dude the first line of this made me laugh so freakin hard. i just didnt expect it lol

[palleagle1]

lol he is nuts . but he ,d be gud at shit talk

[johnyzero2000]

I'm curious if J. Cameron was inspired by The Hellstrom Chronicle and Microcosmos when he wrote Avatar?

[TheRoomy]

This is so old I'm expecting them to start out with "insects, there are almost dozens of species in the world and our scientists believe that there were millions of insects in the Garden of Eden that lived with Jesus and Moses, and they would spontaneously grow out of the ground like maggots grow out of meat. Spiders would make webs out of two of our four elements, water and earth, and Jesus would use the silk to make cowboy hats to shield himself from the sun that our earth revolves around."

[codexbiohazard]

The true Irony Is this "fiction" is not to far from the truth. But sadly they did not do there homework on the effects of radiation on insects....Its dose kill them. The cockroach surviving after a nuclear attack is a fable in most test the "may fly" survives the longest but in time dies dies as well. If the bombs were to drop....its a game end for all life on earth.

The same can be said if our biosphere decayed and the sun radiated the earth.

[kenniemc69]

Right =)

I have about 2500 cockroach at home ( as food for my hoppy animals ) and everybody says that it is so though.. it survive great damage and such... well..

i have many diffrent cockroaches... dubai.. madagaska ( the big one ) even green cockroach from amerika.. and they all die out of nothing... bad food.. they die.. if some fungus gets lose in the colony, they die... some spider poisn :-D hehe and they die... Danish/eu klima =) 2 days.. they die..

[SteveSabbai]

@codexbiohazard ...im more worried about that rogue asteroid that will sooner or later impact earth...

[perceival]

Fantastic - I can't imagine this winning an academy award today. More likely it would be killed by the industry and Nils Hellstrom sent off to Gitmo.

[raumschiffzummond]

The actor's name is Lawrence Pressman -- there's really no Dr. Nils Hellstrom. It's not exactly a documentary, and not exactly fiction... Pretty cool.

[jordan23tonysoprano]

mabie this guy Nils Helstrom is part insect ever wounder

[JANXDPDX]

"comedic-paranoid narration" is right...Nils is such a drama queen!

[tobesters]

Great - thanks for posting.

[2sheds]

Thank you thank you thank you for putting this movie up!!! I've been looking for it everywhere to no avail. I saw it once on PBS or something years and years ago. I love the mix of comedic-paranoid narration and beautiful cinematography. There really isn't anything else out there like it. It won an Oscar and it isn't even on DVD! So thanks again for giving me another chance to watch it. I think I may even make some popcorn.

[Bratgoul]

It's my pleasure!

I'd love to see this movie on DVD with a better quality.

[imjustpassinthru]

No, wait! I just saw it on DVD searching Hellstrom Chronicals on Google.

[Boldshane]

Compared with Man, we have to admit that the insect does not display what we can describe as intelligence. But don't feel too proud about that, because where there is no intelligence, there is also no stupidity.

THE HELLSTROM CHRONICLE

[ERASRone]

@2sheds it's comming out in dvd i thnk in like three weeks

[2sheds]

@ERASRone I got your response in my email and I got so excited I've been searching the internet for info on this DVD you speak of but I can't find anything. How do you know this!?

[whateley23]

People should take care about placing too much credence in this film, and about calling the main character "crazy" or whatever. It's a fictional story, starring the same guy (Lawrence Pressman) who would later play Dr. Benjamin Canfield on Doogie Howser, not to mention many other roles.

That said, some people might find the idea of collective life compelling. Certainly, it would be comforting to many to have that sort of social guarantee.

[Rockulaproductions]

I saw this film ONCE when I was a little boy at a summer program at a science museum. These images have played over and over in my head for the last 30 years until now. It has fueled my obsession with stock footage. ESPECIALLY insects. I intend to do a series of experimental music/video pieces based on the concepts I formed after watching this film as a 10 year old . If you liked this film check out "WAX- ot the Discovery of Television Among the Bees"

[CheesyPanda1]

This 1971 movie influenced Frank Herbert into writing Hellstom's Hive which was published in 1973.

[Bratgoul]

Yes indeed : Quite strange fact is that on my back cover of the book, the exact opposite is written. Though in reality the dates just wouldn't be logical.

[ninelivecat]

Yes and the Character in Hellstroms Hive was called Nils Helstrom and he made documetary films about insects as a front

to keep the Hive a secret

[bullmeecham]

@CheesyPanda1 I've never seen this, any corollary to Herbert's Green Brain (66) ?

[Bushdoctor68]

And what did we learn?

Exactly: Do not package an important message as a cheap tv-soap because nobody listens.

*sigh*

[3liwyQ8]

This is unbelievable, Many thanks my friend.

[JackJamesElias]

Belief puts distance between ourselves and the insects under our feet -- belief in the sovereignty of the individual ego. We have life all figured out, don't we? Or should I say, the demagogues, the saviors, and their followers, have life figured out for us. When we die we'll go to heaven, or we'll reincarnate to a higher level, or we'll never live again. It's all whistling in the dark. There is no security. This is enlightenment.

[Bratgoul]

well for now, we are still alive, so one could consider him insane. Time will surely tell; but what do you think?

[JackJamesElias]

I saw this movie in a theater with friends in 1971 when it was first released and was totally blown away by the photography and educational content.

[Bratgoul]

wow, that movie on a big screen, on film... that surely was as awesome as it sounds. Indeed, that movie makes one think and ponder.

[joyville2]

Me too. Have always respected insects and all life forms since.

[captaincarl]

So, so great

[Bratgoul]

indeed

[Gonzalito200]

Awesome!

Thank you.

[Bratgoul]

no problem :)

[hanshotfirst1138]

God, what I'd give to see this on DVD. There are not words to thank you for this!

[Bratgoul]

yeah. This is from a vhs version. I'd love to see a dvd of this gem, too.

you're welcome !

[Felamine]

Thank you for putting it up! I haven't seen this since my old VHS copy bit the dust.

There are bootleg DVDs out there, but movie so deserves an official DVD release. Why it hasn't gotten one yet is beyond me. I mean, they released Lalo Schifrin's fantastic score on CD a few years ago, so the movie obviously has a fanbase.

[Bratgoul]

I agree on that. I'd love to get a high-definition release. That would be impressive to see.

[argument777]

Thank's for uploading this gem... thought I would never find or see it again.

[Bratgoul]

my pleasure. thanks for watching it !

[rumorologia]

Thank you SO MUCH for uploading this!!!

[Bratgoul]

My pleasure. I think it deserves to be watched by as many people as possible.

[Bratgoul]

Now... sound is fixed. Enjoy !