Educational screen & audio-visual guide (c1956-1971])

FILM EVALUATIONS by L. C. Larson and Carolyn Guss Animals Of East Africa (C-B Edncatioml Films, Inc., 690 Market Street, San Francisco 4, California) 13 tnin., 16mm, sound, color, no date. Description Animals of East Africa presents a close-up view of the larger animals of British East Africa in the area bounded on the east by the Indian Ocean and on the west by the White Nile. The White Nile is described as is Murchison Falls, where the White Nile rushes through a gorge orJy 20 feet wide. The animals described include the elephant, largest of the living land animals; the ostrich, largest existing bird; the giraffe, tallest of living animals; and the zebra, which belongs to the horse family. Among the antelope are Thompson's gazelle; the impala, the most enthusiastic jumper in the animal world; the eland, largest of the antelope; the gnu, the name given by the Hottentots to the wildebeest of South Africa; the hartebeest; and the water buck with its beautiful lyrate horns. The film describes the cape buffalo, acknowledged as one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, and pictures several members of the pig family including the hippopotamus, which spends most of its time in water, and the wart hog, so called because of the warty protuberances on its face. Portrays the wild dogs which hunt in packs and shows a young topi antelope narrowly escaping a pack of these dogs. The spotted hyena and the vulture are pictured as representatives of scavengers of the plains. The king of beasts, the lion, is picured. The lioness is represented as he hunter for the pride and a pride of ions is shown sharing a kill. The seasons are described as alternating between wet and dry. This seriodic change in season controls the life of the plains. As the hoofed animals move in search of water, the beasts of prey follow. Man, too, takes J hand. At the end of the dry season latives set fire to the grass to clear he land for planting. Many animals ire thus destroyed and much land aid bare to erosive forces. During the wet season, streams, lakes and dry beds are flooded; the earth is replenished and herds again cover the plains. The film describes briefly the efforts of the British to establish wildlife refuges and points out the need for the newly emerging African nations to accept their responsibility of preserving the unique animals of Africa as a heritage for future generations. Appraisal Unlike most films on the animals of Africa, Animals of East Africa treats the various groups of animals in a logical, sequential manner. The animals are pictured and described but there is no attempt at sensationalism. The killing of animals by big game hunters, etc., is not shown. On the contrary, the film emphasizes the need for the new nations of Africa to accept their responsibility for the preservation of the animals of Africa. In viewing Animals of East Africa, one knows exactly where the animals might be found because the locale is firmly established at the very beginning of the fikn. The geography and climate of the area are indicated and their impact on the balance of life on the African plains is clearly stated. The concepts presented are such as to be readily understood by many upper elementary students, yet treatment is sufficiently sophisticated that the film would be of value to junior high, senior high, college and adult audiences. There was mild objection, on the part of some evaluators, to the opening and closing native chanting. This does little to set a proper mood for the film and would be better if omitted or replaced by more conventional music. Photographically, the film is superb. Animals generally are shown in groups and then the camera moves in for close-ups. Animals of East Africa will be welcomed by both social studies and biology teachers. The biology teacher will find the film very useful in showing classification and diversity of animals and the social studies teacher will find it useful in a study of African geography and climate and in considering problems faced by the newly emerging nations of Africa. —Donald Nicholas Sense Perception (Moody Institute of Science, 11428 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 25, California) 55 minutes— Part I: 27 minutes. Part II: 28 minutes— 16mm, sound, color, 1960. Each part $220. Teachers guide available. Description Sense Perception offers a series of experiments by Dr. Irwin A. Moon showing the brain as the interpretor of sensory reception and proving that these interpretations are based on the individual's accumulated past experiences. This imperfect character of human sensory perception has driven inquiring men to develop tools and iiial.- Of Kabl .\fiica "liy <ilJ tdiKalional I'ihiig Sducational Screen and Audiovisual Guide — June, 1961 293