To Conserve Our Heritage

Year Published: 1954

Creator: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Format: 16mm

Sound: sound

Description: Essentially a conservation film (re: wildlife and erosion), the reel also goes on to promote the fur and sporting (hunting/fishing) industries.; Opens with description of frontier as "shrouded in mystery." Tons of good shots of: grizzly bears ("monarchs of the wild"), bald eagle ("mighty individual"), deer, antelope, buffalo, birds flying in formation, and a snake in a tree. Also good shot of hands writing a letter.; Moves into the way in which men expanded westward and contributed to erosion and extinction through bad land practices (overgrazing). Shows how free land for homesteaders increased the damage. Ultimately, the film says, man paid for misuse of land with human suffering.; Good shots: newspaper presses.; Film discusses way in which actions are being taken to improve the treatment of the land (a program for soil and wildlife).; Good shots: mosquito and other insects close-up and larvae, hawks, birds feeding chicks in nest.; A discussion of fur industry. Lots of before (mink / beaver) and after (coats / muffs) shots. Hunting and fishing also promoted here. Good shots of hunting dogs and fox hunts.; Narrator explains the "return" of wild-life to natural habitat with the help of special programs. Good shots of various bird species. Also, a predator bird catches and eats a rabbit.; Finally, narrator reminds us to "guard our heritage" so that we may "pass on a better world to our children.