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The River ()


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This documentary short film looks at the devastating and costly problems, including seasonal flooding and erosion of precious topsoil, associated with the Mississippi River system and promotes more Federal projects to remedy the situation.

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Thomas Chalmers ...
Narrator (voice)

Directed by

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Pare Lorentz

Written by

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Pare Lorentz ... (written by)

Music by

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Virgil Thomson

Cinematography by

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Floyd Crosby
Willard Van Dyke
Stacy Woodard

Editing by

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Lloyd Nosler
Leo Zochling

Sound Department

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Albert Dillinger ... sound technician (as Al Dillinger)

Music Department

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Alexander Smallens ... conductor
Henry Brant ... orchestrator (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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A.A. Mercey ... research editor
King Vidor ... technical advisor (uncredited)
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Storyline

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Plot Summary

This short Depression-era documentary describes the importance of the Mississippi River to the United States. It laments the environmental destruction committed in the name of progress, particularly farming and timber practices which cause massive erosion and result in vast amounts of top soil being washed down the river into the Gulf of Mexico. The film focuses especially on the impact this has had on impoverished farmers. It ends on a very upbeat note, however, with a celebration of the TVA, "modern" farming technology, and the use of dams to control the river and prevent flooding. Written by George Schneiderman

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Taglines Beautiful! Stirring! Dramatic! See more »
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Also Known As
  • Река (Soviet Union, Russian title)
  • Το ποτάμι (Greece)
Runtime
  • 31 min
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Box Office

Budget $50,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia This film was selected into the National Film Registry in 1990 for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Precious Images (1986). See more »
Soundtracks A Hot Time in the Old Town See more »

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