Serengeti darf nicht sterben
(Serengeti Shall Not Die)

West Germany (1959): Documentary

In 1957, Professor Bernhard Grzimek, President of the Frankfurt Zoolgical Society, and his son Michael arrived to start their research on the wildebeest migration and to make a film on the subject. They brought a zebra-striped aircraft with them. They also brought out one of Germany's top documentary cameramen, but filming wildlife was so alien to him that he left within a couple of weeks. So the Grzimeks took on Alan Root, who had very little experience but knew the Serengeti well. Almost exactly a year later with the film less than half shot, Michael was killed when he crashed his plane and Root was left to finish the filming. Serengeti Shall Not Die was awarded an Oscar^®, put the Serengeti firmly on the map and did much to alert the world to the plight of Africa's wildlife. (Serengeti.org)

 View clips from this film on WorldFilmHistory.org: Clip 1; Clip 2

1 nomination, 1 Award