I remember seeing this film at Science Camp and years later, showing it to kids at the camp myself as a naturalist. Other more experienced naturalists rattled off the changes that had taken place since the film had been published. It was printed in 1971 and by 1982 when I showed it, many of the species said to be in danger were extinct. I'll always remember that the first reel contained all the graphic images and we could relax for the second half. I remember hearing on the news that a study had been conducted showing that graphic environmental films were not effective because people tended to shut out the images from their mind soon afterward. I knew as soon as I heard it that they had to be referring to this film. It was the year that I was a naturalist that the decision was made to stop showing it. It was so violent. The most memorable image was a long view of a prairie dog standing on it's hind legs watching for danger and suddenly it exploded into bits. It had been shot by a rancher concerned that his cows would trip in their burrows. I was always conflicted at the conundrum, knowing that you are trying to show the graphic nature of a horrific act like that, and yet not stopping it but rather catching it on film. I give my high rating not because it was such a beautifully made film or that it's violent nature was the best way to wake us up. I give it because the film tried so hard at the start of the environmental movement to show us uncomfortable images of what was really out there, things that most people would never see. It is quite outdated now. Hell, it was outdated just 12 years after it was made because it was showing animals that were not long for the world. A similar film could be made today with the lessons learned from all those years ago. Remember that this film was made in the years leading up to the landmark legislation of 1974 that would ultimately reverse the destruction of Lake Erie and in what were actually much more smoggy skies of the 1970s compared to today. It seems ironic that all those years ago, people had to demand pollution controls to clean up the air when today, there are those that would tell you that such controls should be dropped because they don't believe the dire consequences said to befall us without them. This was an important film.
Review of Say Goodbye
