School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up-Narrated by actor Richard Dreyfuss and based on the accounts of survivors, the horror of the 1889 Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood is brought to life. Taken from primary source accounts, the production uses reenactments, drawings, maps, and some graphic photographs to recreate the devastation wrought when the dam burst, flooding five towns and costing thousands their lives. The stage is well set by introducing the bustling town and some of its 30,000 residents (mostly immigrants) just before the flood. The geography of the area and the reasons for the flood are also well explained. The railroad company that owned the dam warned residents several times that day that it was going to burst, but those who left were called "cowards." There are about 45 minutes of extremely graphic, gruesome accounts depicting some of the nearly 3,000 deaths as a result of the flood. A 20-minute mini-documentary and interview with Richard Burkert, Executive Director of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, provides additional information on the history of the flood. Well produced with excellent narration, Johnstown Flood does an excellent job recreating this tragedy. However, it may be too graphic for younger students, and does not have a direct correlation with most curricula. Nevertheless, this gripping film about a disaster that never should have happened may be a good way to show how unregulated industry can lead to catastrophe.-Traci Johnson, Otselic Valley Jr.-Sr. High School, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Library Journal Review
On May 31, 1889, following days of drenching rainfall, the South Fork dam above Johnstown, PA, collapsed. This poorly maintained earthen dam was part of an exclusive sporting club, a haven for rich industrialists like Andrew Carnegie. In little more than half an hour, millions of gallons of water, cresting over 35 feet and traveling at a speed of 40 mph, roared down the narrow valley, killing over 2000 people and destroying almost everything in its path. Richard Dreyfuss narrates this vivid tale of one of late 19th-century America's worst disasters. Using dramatic re-creations, old photos, and first-person narratives, the video illustrates the flood's capricious power. The video expertly depicts the heady optimism of this bustling industrial town, plus the strange atmosphere of fear and complacency that marked the doomed city's last days. Although the video claims the flood "galvanized" America, in truth there were no reforms following the event, and the rich owners of the dam were never held accountable for their negligence. This disc includes outstanding extras like an interview and running commentary supplied by the director of Johnstown's Flood Museum. Highly recommended for school and public libraries.-Stephen Rees, Levittown Regional Lib., PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.