Documentary
United States of America
The Vanishing Prairie is a 1954 documentary film released by Walt Disney Productions. The film tells the story of the American Prairie as it was before European settlers arrived and chronicles the decline of the prairie due to agriculture and industrialization.
The film opens with sweeping shots of the prairie and the vast herds of bison and elk that once lived there. It then introduces the viewer to the different types of grasses and prairie flowers that make up the ecosystem of this unique landscape.
The film also showcases the various predators that lived on the prairie, including coyotes, wolves, and mountain lions. It demonstrates how these predators kept the ecosystem in balance by preying on weaker or diseased animals.
As the film progresses, however, it becomes clear that the prairie is rapidly disappearing. The film shows footage of farmers plowing up the grasslands to create farmland and cities encroaching on the open spaces. The bison and elk are disappearing, and the predators that once kept the ecosystem in balance are being pushed off the land.
The final scenes of the film are a call to action to preserve what is left of the prairie and its dwindling inhabitants. The narrator urges viewers to support organizations that are working to protect the remaining prairie lands and calls on individuals to take steps to reduce their impact on the environment.
Overall, The Vanishing Prairie is a poignant and beautifully shot film that showcases the wonders of the American Prairie while highlighting the urgent need to protect it.
