Day in Death Valley, A (1944)
** (out of 4)
A rather too laid back and bland entry in MGM's TravelTalks series takes us to Death Valley where we learn it got its name from a pioneer who, once leaving the place, looked back at all the death it causes and called it "Death Valley". The first half of the film takes us to a Borax mine where we get to see various mines and forms of transportation that were used to get around. We learn about everyone who went there looking for gold but turned up empty handed. Once again there really aren't any major surprised in this entry but that's to be expected considering all of these had one thing in mind and that was to show places to people across the country who would never have another chance to see them for themselves. On that level this series has always worked but this here isn't one of the better entries. I thought the film wasted way too much time at the mines because we really don't learn too much and there are several small sequences where nothing is being said. The visuals here are certainly the main reason to watch the film as those deadly valleys certainly look great in Technicolor.
** (out of 4)
A rather too laid back and bland entry in MGM's TravelTalks series takes us to Death Valley where we learn it got its name from a pioneer who, once leaving the place, looked back at all the death it causes and called it "Death Valley". The first half of the film takes us to a Borax mine where we get to see various mines and forms of transportation that were used to get around. We learn about everyone who went there looking for gold but turned up empty handed. Once again there really aren't any major surprised in this entry but that's to be expected considering all of these had one thing in mind and that was to show places to people across the country who would never have another chance to see them for themselves. On that level this series has always worked but this here isn't one of the better entries. I thought the film wasted way too much time at the mines because we really don't learn too much and there are several small sequences where nothing is being said. The visuals here are certainly the main reason to watch the film as those deadly valleys certainly look great in Technicolor.
