In 1939, Pare Lorentz, head of the New Deal-related United States Film Service, hired Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens to make a documentary spotlighting the electrification of isolated rural areas. Ivens focused on the farm of Bill and Hazel Parkinson of Wamock, OH, and the resulting film—Power and the Land (1940), which featured a screenplay by Stephen Vincent Benet and a musical score by Douglas Moore—ended up being more than your typical government propaganda film. Originally broadcast on PBS, Ephraim K. Smith's 2005 documentary on the subject, Power for the Parkinsons—narrated by Walter Cronkite—revisits the long-forgotten Ivens film and the surrounding historical environment. Even as late as 1935, some 90% of American farms still lacked electricity, and without an electric pump most did not have running water. Ivens' choice of the charming Parkinson family turned out to be fortuitous, as they accommodated the film crew for months and were good sports in doing endless retakes for the demanding Ivens (this is a forerunner of reality television!). Here, the descendants of the Parkinsons speak at length of their parents' and grandparents' participation in the film (and how it changed their lives), while a generous selection of clips from the original provide a glimpse into both 1930s American history and a fascinating work of nonfiction cinema in its own right. Recommended. [Note: Smith's new documentary sequel, The Parkinsons, is also available at the same prices.] Aud: H, C, P. (P. Hall)
Power for the Parkinsons
(2005) 57 min. DVD: $24.95: individuals; $80: public libraries & high schools; $160: colleges & universities. Heritage Productions. PPR. ISBN: 978-0-9725052-7-7. Volume 23, Issue 6
Power for the Parkinsons
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: