The Living Desert (1953)

About The Living Desert

The Living Desert is a full-length nature documentary film that showcases the wildlife of the American southwestern deserts. Released in 1953, it is one of the first films that brought the wonders of nature to the big screen. The documentary covers unique aspects of desert flora and fauna, including its animals' peculiar ways of coping with harsh conditions. From the predatory behavior of tarantulas to the defensive mechanisms of cacti, the movie presents the desert as a place teeming with life and vitality.

Making / Production

The Living Desert was produced by Walt Disney Productions as part of its True-Life Adventures series. The series was notable at the time for its use of Technicolor and was the first feature-length film in the series. The film was directed by James Algar and the cinematography was done by N. Paul Kenworthy Jr. and Robert H. Crandall.

Actors

• Winston Hibler: He served as the narrator of this documentary film, adding depth and intrigue to the natural phenomena displayed. His captivating narration guides the audience through the natural wonders of the deserts.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The Living Desert was the first feature-length film in Disney's True-Life Adventures series, and thus pioneered the subsequent production of nature documentaries.
• Walt Disney wanted to prove that nature films could be financially viable. The success of The Living Desert confirmed this and paved the way for future wildlife documentaries.
• The budget of the movie was remarkably low, around $300,000, but it grossed more than $5 million at the box office.

Awards

The Living Desert won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 26th Academy Awards in 1953. It was also selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Quotes

• “First in a new series of True-Life Adventures ... Introducing ... The Living Desert!” – Winston Hibler
• “Designed for survival, or inspired by some sense of humor.” – Winston Hibler, on the various creatures of the desert

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's soundtrack, composed by Paul Smith, was instrumental in creating the atmosphere and accentuating the drama of the environment and wildlife. The soundtrack contributes to the documentary by setting the tone for each scene.