Narrated by F. Murray Abraham, this entry from the acclaimed PBS NATURE series explores what Darwin called “sexual selection.” The mating game is intense and varies between species, but the common theme here is the male's desire to stand out from the crowd, and the female's drive to select the best genes to pass down to future generations. Indeed, females hold most of the power here, but males try to increase their chances and ward off rivals with menacing glares, bloody warfare, or elaborate feather displays and dances (all meant to indicate virility). Sounds also play an important role in mating: some monkeys have even learned to use tools—such as drumming with sticks—to attract mates. As this documentary ably demonstrates, Mother Nature can be fooled, as viewers will witness when researchers darken a barn swallow's feathers to increase successful mating, or use a mechanical “fembot” grouse to arouse interest in males. Drawing on such examples as baboons, elephant seals, lizards, and spiders, scientists here make the point that mating strategies are diverse and that nature is always evolving. Boasting solid writing, beautiful cinematography, and insightful commentary, this is highly recommended. [Note: also newly available in the NATURE series are: Cheetahs & Lions, Polar Bears, and Silence of the Bees.] Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)
What Females Want…and Males Will Do
(2006) 110 min. DVD: $19.99. Questar (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: 978-1-59464-396-5. Volume 23, Issue 5
What Females Want…and Males Will Do
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