Great Plains (8 Apr. 2007)

A quarter of the earth's land mass, from arctic to tropical, are open plains consisting of lowland as well as highland plateaus. Here grows virtually indestructible, fast-growing grasses of... See full summary »

Director:

Alastair Fothergill

Writer:

Gary Parker (additional writer)

Stars:

David Attenborough, Sigourney Weaver, Justine Evans

Cast

Episode credited cast:
David Attenborough	...	Himself - Narrator (voice)
Sigourney Weaver	...	Narrator - US Version
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Justine Evans	...	Herself
Jonathan Keeling	...	Himself (as Jonny Keeling)

Storyline

A quarter of the earth's land mass, from arctic to tropical, are open plains consisting of lowland as well as highland plateaus. Here grows virtually indestructible, fast-growing grasses of all sizes that feed the planet's largest herbivore populations, the preys to solitary and social carnivores. Spectacular elements of the seasonal cycle of life can include mass migrations, monsoons, drought and great fires.

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Plot Keywords:

fire | earth

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Release Date:

8 April 2007 (USA)

Company Credits

Did You Know?

Trivia

A supply tent caught fire in the middle of the night. Luckily it wasn't the one with all the fuel reserves in it!

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Quotes

Narrator: Female Asses are mysterious creatures. They come and go as they please, and much of their behaviour seems unfathomable to an outsider.

User Reviews

Grass - The Most Popular Plant On The Planet!

I've seen this particular episode twice, first narrated by Sigourney Weaver for United States television, and then part of this 11-part series narrated by David Attenborough. Both times it was fascinating, encouraging me that multiple viewings of this entire set will be appreciated and enjoyed.

There is a lot of fascinating material in this one, but then, what else would you expect from an area that holds "the greatest gathering of wildlife on Earth?" The heart of this story is grass. That's it: simple, little blade-like plant that literally feeds most of the planet. This "miracle plant," as host David Attenborough tells us, covers one-fourth of the earth and, next to water, is what keeps most animals alive. You can burn it, freeze it, eat it all - whatever - and it keeps coming back.

Great migrations of animals and birds, from elephants to Mongolian gazelles to wildebeests and more are seen in this episode traveling long miles to find it.. Some kind of savanna bird is seen in the most amazing migration you'll ever see in the sky: one-and-a-half billion of them.

Later, the five-million snow geese migration to the Arctic tundra is shown, along with the Caribou headed the same way and the wolves who stalk them for food.

As we head south, we see the fantastic bison of the North American plains. It's nice to hear that they are now recovering after hunters for years had reduced the Buffalo numbers from 60 million to just about a thousand.

Grass can grow really tall, if the conditions are right, we are told. For example, there is "elephant grass" where - naturally - the elephants like to go. A funny short segment shows some kind of bird leaping up and over the tall grass every few seconds trying to get attention for a mate. Throughout this "Planet Earth" series, you'd be amazed at the things you see different male species do to attract the females for mating!

Later - warning - the fun turns 180 degrees and there is fairly long segment that I will not watch again: lions, at night, attacking and eating a small elephants. Lions have fantastic night vision while elephants see as we humans do, meaning not well in the middle of the night in a pitch-dark area.

After that unpleasant scene, we get to see animals and birds enjoy the ultimate: a flooded plain - a bonanza for food and drink.