Rachel Carson (1907-1964)

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring is a documentary film that was shown on US television (PBS) and released on DVD in 2007. This film, which runs for 55 minutes, is an episode of the long-running program American Experience.

Rachel Carson was born in in 1907. When she died in 1964, she was only 56. Her life was cut short by cancer. American Experience released this film in 2007 in order to mark the 100-year anniversary of her birth.

Ten years later American Experience presented a brand new film about Rachel Carson. It was shown on US television (PBS) and released on DVD in January 2017. The new film, which is called Rachel Carson, is twice as long as the old film from 2007, and it covers her life and career in great detail. Here is some basic information about it:

*** Written and directed by Michelle Ferrari

*** Produced by Rafael de la Uz and Michelle Ferrari

*** The voice of Rachel Carter is read by Mary-Louise Parker

*** Narrated by Oliver Platt

*** Run time: 113 minutes

Several persons are interviewed in the new film. 

 

Here are the names in the order of appearance:

 

The first group

** William Souder, biographer

** Deborah Blum, writer

** David Kinkela, historian

** Mark H. Lytle, historian

** Naomi Oreskes, historian

 

The second group

** Linda Lear, biographer

** Robert K. Musil, environmental scientist

** Deborah Cramer, writer

** Martha Freeman, Dorothy Freeman’s grand-daughter

** Roger Christie, Rachel’s grand-nephew and adopted son

 Rachel Carson was a biologist and a writer. For several years she worked as a marine biologist for a US Government agency. In her free time she wrote books and articles about nature, focusing on the sea. Her books were quite popular. Eventually, they were so popular that she was able to quit her job and become a full-time writer.

Her most important book was her last book: Silent Spring, which was published in 1962, shortly before her death. The book has a strong message, a strong warning. She wants to warn the world against excessive use of DDT and other pesticides:

When we want to kill certain insects, such as mosquitoes carrying malaria, we are at the same time polluting the environment and ultimately putting our own survival at risk.

Back in 1962, such a message was revolutionary. At the time there was no sense that we must protect the environment. There was no understanding that pollution is a serious problem that deserves our attention.

Her book became a bestseller in the US. When it was translated into other languages, it became an international bestseller. Today, her book is seen as the catalyst which started the environmental movement in the US and indeed in the whole world.

When she made her statement, not everybody agreed with her, not everybody was happy about it. Why? Because she was accusing big business of disregarding the environment, of putting profits before people. The managers of big business were not happy to see such a message. She also accused the government of neglecting the problem. She urged the US government to regulate this issue, so nature could be protected.

The general public, on the other hand, received her message with enthusiasm. Environmental movements were formed all over the US and in many other countries around the world. These movements put so much pressure on their governments that they had to issue laws to protect the environment.

While these laws are not always tough enough, while these laws are not always respected, the current situation is still very different from the situation that existed before Rachel Carson published her book in 1962.

She is regarded as the person who inspired the environmental movement that grew up in the 1970s, which is a remarkable fact, given that she herself was a very private person.

As stated above, this film covers her life and her career in great detail. The witnesses are well-chosen. Between the “talking heads” there is a lot of old footage, photos as well as film. Obviously, most of this old footage is in black-and-white. The old footage is also well-chosen.

The story of Rachel Carson is important. It deserves to be told, and this film does it very well. If you are interested in the history of the modern world – in particular the development of environmental concerns – this film is definitely something for you.

PS # 1. I do not wish to say anything bad about the old film from 2007. But if you have a choice between the old film from 2007 (55 minutes) and the new film from 2017 (113 minutes), I am quite sure you will prefer the latter over the former.

PS # 2. Writings by Rachel Carter:

** Under the Sea Wind (1941)

** The Sea Around Us (1951, 1991)

** The Edge of the Sea (1955, 1998)

** Silent Spring (1962, 2002)

PS # 3. For more information, see the following books:

** On a Farther Shore: The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson, Author of Silent Spring by William Souder (2012, 2013)

** DDT and the American Century by David Kinkela (2011, 2013)

** Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature by Linda Lear (1998, 2009)

** The Gentle Subversive: Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, and the Rise of the Environmental Movement by Mark H. Lytle (2007)

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Rachel Carson on American Experience
(season 29 episode 4, broadcast in January 2017)

Here is a link to the American Experience website:

Rachel Carson

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