The Plow That Broke The Plains

Directed by Pare Lorentz, this 1936 documentary film narrates the tragic history of the Great Plains through three distinct phases.

Part 1 captures the initial settlement of the prairies, where the landscape was dominated by grazing cattle. It then transitions to the homesteading era, where settlers, lured by government promises of land, plowed the grasslands to plant wheat, leading to a brief boom during World War I due to high grain prices.
Part 2 delves into the post-war economic downturn. After the war, with the decline in wheat prices, farmers faced overproduction and economic hardship. The film shows the transition from prosperity to abandonment, with scenes of once-used farm equipment left rusting in fields, symbolizing the agricultural crisis.
Part 3 is particularly dramatic, showcasing the devastating Dust Bowl. It includes harrowing footage of dust storms that obliterated farms, turning fertile land into barren, dusty wastelands. The film's final scenes depict the exodus of farmers from their devastated lands, heading westward in search of a new beginning, encapsulating the human tragedy of the Dust Bowl era.

"The Plow That Broke The Plains" is not only a historical document but also an artistic piece, using music and poetic narration to convey the story of human ambition, environmental consequences, and economic despair in the American heartland.