Monumental: David Brower's Fight for Wild America

David Brower, who became the Sierra Club's first executive director in 1952 and transformed the organization from a club for hiking and rock-climbing enthusiasts into a politically savvy engine of environmental activism, is the subject of Kelly Duane's informative, often beautiful documentary. Combining 16mm footage taken by Brower on expeditions between 1930 and 1970 and excerpts from recordings he made during the 1970s as part of the Sierra Club's oral history project—as well as newsreels and interviews not only with family, colleagues, and friends, but also political figures such as former Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall and Floyd Dominy, the head of the Bureau of Reclamation, whose dam-building projects Brower vigorously opposed—Duane has fashioned a portrait of an activist of fiery dedication and considerable public relations skills. Monumental follows Brower from his youth as an avid climber through his Army service during World War II and his 17 years with the Sierra Club, during which he was a major force behind the passing of the 1964 Wilderness Act, establishing the Redwoods National Park, and derailing a project for a Grand Canyon dam. The film essentially ends when Brower was ousted as the club's director, offering only sketchy coverage of his later work with Friends of the Earth and the Earth Island Institute. If not entirely comprehensive, this is still a powerful tribute to a man of passion and commitment, as well as the movement he was instrumental in building. DVD extras include two of Brower's short films, and interviews with Duane and Udall. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)