Mysterious Castles Of Clay
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''Mysterious Castles of Clay'' is a 1978 film about a termite colony; filmed in
Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
by Joan and
Alan Root Alan Root (12 May 1937, London – 26 August 2017) was a British-born filmmaker who worked on nature documentary series such as ''Survival''. Until 1981 he was married to Joan Root, who was a Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya ...
, and narrated by
Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is among the greatest and most influential film ...
. It was nominated for an
Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...
for Best Documentary Feature and received a
Peabody Award The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards or the Peabodys) program, named for the American businessman and philanthropist George Foster Peabody, George Peabody, honor what are described as the most powerful, enlightening, and in ...
. One version of the film, known as simply ''Castles of Clay'', was narrated by British actor
Derek Jacobi Sir Derek George Jacobi (; born 22 October 1938) is an English actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen as well as for his work at the Royal National Theatre, he has received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, a BAFTA Award, two ...
. Because the original film was lost, only three copies are known to exist in the United States. One of these is in the possession of famed nature documenter
Ken Burns Kenneth Lauren Burns (born July 29, 1953) is an American filmmaker known for his documentary films and television series, many of which chronicle American history and culture. His work is often produced in association with WETA-TV or the Nati ...
; another is in the possession of the science department of the
Colorado Rocky Mountain School Colorado Rocky Mountain School (CRMS) is an independent coeducational boarding and day school in Carbondale, Colorado. Founded in 1953, CRMS educates roughly 175 students in grades 9 through 12. The curriculum emphasizes rigorous college prep ...
.


See also

* Orson Welles filmography * ''
Survival Survival or survivorship, the act of surviving, is the propensity of something to continue existing, particularly when this is done despite conditions that might kill or destroy it. The concept can be applied to humans and other living things ...
''


References


External links

* 1978 films American documentary films Documentary films about nature 1978 documentary films Films about insects Peabody Award–winning television programs Termites 1970s English-language films 1970s American films English-language documentary films {{nature-documentary-film-stub