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The Hellstrom Chronicle
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Wikipedia article
'The Hellstrom Chronicle' is an American film released in 1971 which combines elements of documentary, science fiction, horror and apocalyptic prophecy to present a gripping satirical depiction of the struggle for survival between humans and insects. It won the 1972 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It was conceived and produced by David L. Wolper,[https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-hellstrom-chronicle/Film?oid=1057645 Chicago Reader] directed by Walon Green[https://www.spectacletheater.com/the-hellstrom-chronicle/ Spectacle Theater] and written by David Seltzer, who earned a Writers Guild of America Award nomination for his screenplay.
Plot
Fictitious scientist Dr. Nils Hellstrom (played by Lawrence Pressman)[https://vimeo.com/212824039 THE HELLSTROM CHRONICLE (Waylon Green, 1971) on Vimeo] guides viewers throughout the film. He claims, on the basis of scientific-sounding theories, that insects will ultimately win the fight for survival on Earth because of their adaptability and ability to reproduce rapidly and that the human race will lose this fight largely because of excessive individualism. The film combines short clips from horror and science fiction movies with extraordinary camera sequences of butterflies, locusts, wasps, termites, ants, mayflies, other insects rarely seen before on film and insectivorous plants/insects.[https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-hellstrom-chronicle-v22117 AllMovie]
Technical advisers Roy Snelling and Charles Hogue were entomologists at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History.
Cast
*Lawrence Pressman - Dr. Nils Hellstrom, M.S., Ph.D.
*Conlan Carter - the farmer
*Ian McShane - (self), playing the actor in the film clip from 'If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium'
*Suzanne Pleshette - (self), portraying the actress in the same
Reception
Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 75% score based on reviews from 8 critics.
Green later called it "almost yellow-journally but good. We were giving the audience an elbow to the ribs every third line."
Awards
* 1972 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature[https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1972 1972|Oscars.org]
* 1972 BAFTA Award - Best Documentary Feature
Home video
The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray January 10, 2012 from Olive Films.[https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s3766chro.html DVD Savant Review]
See also
* 'Phase IV'
* 'Hellstrom's Hive'
* 'Watership Down'
* 'The Plague Dogs'
* 'The Adventures of Chatran'
References
Buy The Hellstrom Chronicle now from Amazon
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