The Sea Around Us (film)

The Sea Around Us is an American documentary from 1953 by the award-winning book wonders of the seas of the biologist Rachel Carson.

Action

The documentation covers the oceans. After an introduction about the origin of the oceans and the water use by humans it comes to microscopic life in the seas. The food chain is illustrated with the diatom, which serves as food for crabs. Recordings of iridescent sea snakes follow.

The next issue is a fight between an octopus and a shark, the shark wins. With baits, which are provided with narcotics, sharks are caught for the Marineland in Florida and there, served by professional caregivers, the "shark walkers ".

There follows a description of the dive, the Otis Barton in 1949 undertook a bathysphere and in which he had a deep diving record. The film now turns to the dangers of the sea. Tsunami cause massive waves. For humans, deadly animals such as various jellyfish and moray eels are presented.

The fishing industry is the next point to be treated. From sponge divers to cancer fishermen fishing methods are presented. After looking at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, with its diverse flora and fauna, salmon from the Pacific Northwest will be shown that drag their way to the spawning grounds. Marine mammals such as whales, seals, turtles and seals are treated as well as the various sea birds.

After footage of a whale hunt, the film closes with the open question of the fate of our world, when the polar ice caps continue to melt and the water flooded the coasts.

Criticism

Bosley Crowther certified by the New York Times that the assembly vivid color films full of attractive images was.

Awards

1953, the film in the category Best Documentary was awarded the Oscar.

Background

The documentation had on June 30, 1953 premiere.

The film rights to Carson's book had saved RKO Pictures, which then brought the movie into sales. Rachel Carson was involved in the creation of the script. Irwin Allen sent his manuscript to the biologist, the first criticism was negative. The director, who later with disaster movies like The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno made ​​a name could make a deal with Carson, which obliged them to release any harmful statements about the film and its producers.