The Prize

Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book by Daniel Yergin, The Prize is an impressive eight-hour epic which traces the history and impact of that stuff that made Jed, Granny, Elly Mae, and Jethro pull up stakes and move to Beverly Hills: oil, that is. Black gold. Texas tea. No question about it, oil has produced a number of Jed Clampett-type millionaires in this century, but oil has also not been worth a plug nickel at times (at one point during the Great Depression, barrels of oil sold for two cents each). The Prize, which originally aired on PBS stations from January 11-14, focuses on the human drama: from the grubby monopolizing of the first oil baron, John D. Rockefeller (who was brought down by a feisty journalist named Ida Tarbell), to the position oil played in the recent Gulf War. Although each of the episodes were directed by different individuals, there is an overall look and feel to the series which remains surprisingly consistent. The liberal use of historical photographs and film clips is augmented by brief dramatic sketches and numerous interview clips with many experts (including copious commentary by author Yergin, himself). Add to this the stirring original soundtrack composed by Paul Foss and Donald Sutherland's superb narration, and The Prize emerges not only as a riveting history of a key player (oil) in mankind's recent history, but grand entertainment as well. It's an investigative report that dredges up a lot of truth to go with the crude. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (Available from: Films Inc. Video, 5547 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60640-1199; (800) 343-4312.)