The Plow That Broke the Plains, ca. 1937

ARC Identifier 13595 / Local Identifier 96.2. The film presents the social and economic history of the Great Plains -- from the time of the settlement of the prairies, through the World War I boom, to the years of depression and drought. The first part of the film shows cattle as they grazed on grasslands, and homesteaders who hurried onto the plains and grew large wheat crops. The second part depicts the postwar decline of the wheat market, which resulted in overproduction. Footage shows farm equipment used, then abandoned. The third part shows a dust storm as it rendered a farm useless. Subsequent scenes show farmers as they left their homes and headed west. Department of Agriculture. Farm Security Administration. Information Division. (ca. 1937 - ca. 1942). Note that this is the version without the epilogue.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• archives.gov
• public.resource.org

[vawlkee51]

Brilliant!

I saw this as a kid in school in the 60's.

This and "The River" are as relevant today as they were in the 30's.

What a pity this nation was sold out and could never do anything like this again.

John Steinbeck - where are you when we need you!

[powerspade]

Should have left the plains to the native Indians and the buffalo they knew how to managed it properly

[Snowboy2015]

I hope whoever wrote that shit about the "Indians" is in hell playing eternal roulette with the devil and hitler

[MrWiskytangofoxtrot]

And another at 12:38 :)

[MrWiskytangofoxtrot]

At 11:34 it looks like another one goes boom :D

[MrWiskytangofoxtrot]

At 10:22 the tractor looks like it exploded XD

[Arveyan]

I played the soundtrack for this during orchestra in undergrad. Sadly, this recording doesn't quite do the sound justice, especially with the final song. Still, even with the audio as it is, it's a very moving piece of work.

[terracoat]

@verykristi I recently read this book as well. Egan is a excellent writer and all his books are very good.

[VelvetSparrow1]

Just like the Owens Valley in the California Sierras today. The Owens Lake area is becoming a modern dust bowl due to southern California taking all of the water. We truly never learn.

[Mackeson3]

A wonderful score by Virgil Thomson, film music seemed to be his forte . Pity his symphonies and operas are so dire!

[JanaHorst]

@iamafridge

LMAO - good sense of humor!

[iamafridge]

does anyone know who the drummer is at 17:05 ?