''Secrets of Life'' is a 1956 American

documentary film A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record". Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in te ...

written and directed by

James Algar James Algar (June 11, 1912 – February 26, 1998) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He worked at Walt Disney Productions for 43 years and received the Disney Legends award in 1998. He was born in Modesto, Californi ...

. The documentary follows the changing world of nature, the sky, the sea, the sun, planets, insects and volcanic action. The documentary was released on November 6, 1956, by

Buena Vista Distribution Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, formerly known as Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. until 2007, is an American film distribution studio within the Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution division of The Walt Disney Company. It h ...

Synopsis

The fourth in Walt Disney's

True-Life Adventures ''True-Life Adventures'' is a series of short and full-length nature documentary films released by Walt Disney Productions between the years 1948 and 1960. The first seven films released were thirty-minute shorts, with the subsequent seven film ...

series, the 1956 film ''Secrets of Life'' features previously rarely-seen film footage of nature's "behind-the-scenes" goings-on that play a huge role in making the planet what it is. From bees to ants and the flora and fauna surrounding us, ''Secrets of Life'' reveal a sometimes startling glimpse into nature's wonders that we often take for granted. Accompanied by musical selections, the metamorphosis of air-borne seeds into glorious plants and flowers is shown with the help of time-lapse photography. Bees are seen as they go about the non-stop business of pollination, giving adage to the saying "busy as a bee". Ants are shown in their various classifications, from workers to warriors to the regal "queen". Countless protozoa are viewed in a single drop of water as the voice-over describes their role in the "big picture" of unseen nature. The close-ups provide an intimacy which gives these oft-neglected organisms a "face".

Awards

* 1957 Berlin Film Festival:

Golden Bear The Golden Bear (german: Goldener Bär) is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival. The bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin, featured on both the coat of arms and flag of Berlin. History The win ...

(Best Documentary)

References

External links

* 1956 films Disney documentary films Walt Disney Pictures films American documentary films 1956 documentary films Films directed by James Algar Documentary films about nature Films produced by Ben Sharpsteen Films scored by Paul Smith (film and television composer) 1950s English-language films 1950s American films {{nature-documentary-film-stub