initiated by anil on September 18, 2008 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363722/)
In this 64 minute documentary, still photos, drawings, illustrations, and dramatic reenactments constitute the visuals, while a voice-over (VO) describes and explains the particulars of the disaster, which occurred in 1889. Knowing next to nothing about this event, I found the film to be a fairly good introduction.When watching any documentary I prefer as many facts as possible. "Johnstown Flood" more
In this 64 minute documentary, still photos, drawings, illustrations, and dramatic reenactments constitute the visuals, while a voice-over (VO) describes and explains the particulars of the disaster, which occurred in 1889. Knowing next to nothing about this event, I found the film to be a fairly good introduction.When watching any documentary I prefer as many facts as possible. "Johnstown Flood" provides enough factual information to make the film worthwhile. I especially liked the liberal use of maps, because they help to orient the viewer, and provide a sense of direction.But, I could have done without the reenactments, which consisted of actors, dressed in period costumes, engaged in brief dramatic scenes. I found this element to be unnecessary, somewhat hokey, and devoid of useful facts. Further, the VO script becomes terribly melodramatic, at times. For example, with violins playing funereal background music, the narrator tells us: "From the banks many charred remains of victims were plainly visible to the naked eye as the retreating waters reluctantly gave up their dead. Beneath almost every log or blackened beam a glistening skull or the scorched remnants of ribs or limbs marked all that remained of life's hopes and dreams."The reenactments and the melodramatic script aside, "Johnstown Flood" is an adequate overview of this long ago tragedy. If the viewer wants to research the event in more detail, there are plenty of sources available, including books, videos, and the historical society in the city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
