![]() If the viewer wants to research the event in more detail, there are plenty of sources available, including books, videos, and the historical society in the city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Beneath almost every log or blackened beam a glistening skull or the scorched remnants of ribs or limbs marked all that remained of life's hopes and dreams." The reenactments and the melodramatic script aside, "Johnstown Flood" is an adequate overview of this long ago tragedy. For example, with violins playing funereal background music, the narrator tells us: "From the banks many charred remains of victims were plainly visible to the naked eye as the retreating waters reluctantly gave up their dead. ![]() Further, the VO script becomes terribly melodramatic, at times. I found this element to be unnecessary, somewhat hokey, and devoid of useful facts. But, I could have done without the reenactments, which consisted of actors, dressed in period costumes, engaged in brief dramatic scenes. THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD by David McCullough RELEASE DATE: MaThe Johnstown Flood was one of the greatest natural disasters of all time (actually manmade, since it was precipitated by a wealthy country club dam which had long been the source of justified misgivings). I especially liked the liberal use of maps, because they help to orient the viewer, and provide a sense of direction. "Johnstown Flood" provides enough factual information to make the film worthwhile. When watching any documentary I prefer as many facts as possible. Knowing next to nothing about this event, I found the film to be a fairly good introduction. ![]() In this 64 minute documentary, still photos, drawings, illustrations, and dramatic reenactments constitute the visuals, while a voice-over (VO) describes and explains the particulars of the disaster, which occurred in 1889. ![]()
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