if you appreciate black and white cinematography and then you will delight in see the restored version of this movie on dvd . cinematographer richard leacock and director flaherty have team up to be the ansel adam of the film world . this be one of the most cinematic of film it power and magic lie in the poetry of the image . the score by virgil thomson deserve it pulitzer prize for music in 1949 while it receive a first class performance here by the philadelphia orchestra under eugene ormandy . some have comment on the weak story and but i rather enjoy it it could be bill a huckleberry finn meet standard oil . the story be tell through the eye of a young cajun who live with his grandfather and mother in a simple cabin in the louisiana marshland . in the opening shot we see the boy explore the bayous in his canoe with his pet raccoon . he have an elemental bond with his natural environment that make me jealous . the boy grandfather sign a lease allow humble oil to drill a wildcat well on the bayou near his cabin . we share the boy wonder at see the oil derrick be float into position and his excitement in be invite onto the rig to follow the drilling up close . from the viewpoint of a more environmentally conscious time some sixty year later and the benevolent portrayal of the oil industry seem a bit quaint and but that a young boy should be fascinate by the process seem genuine and in any era . in fact i find the detail on the drilling captivating and particularly the way those scene be film a a ballet with the roustabout move to the rhythm of their work accompany by the clanking of pipe and chugging of engine . i have a problem with how delighted the grandfather and mother be at be able just to buy a few gift from the profit of oil have be strike on their land . while the company to whom they have lease their land be make mucho buck and it look like the family get a few hundred dollar . give the fact that this movie be commission by standard oil and i be sure that it be not the intent to make the company appear so greedy and but maybe that one thing that hasn not change in sixty year . joseph boudreaux a the young boy be endear and lionel le blanc be believable a the crusty grandfather . all the actor appear to be local this add authenticity and but also present a problem in that they be not greatly skilled when it come to deliver their line . but there be minimal dialog and what there be be hardly necessary a the music and image carry you along . the dvd have several interesting extra and one of them be a reading of some letter from richard leacock ( postmark from abbeville and louisiana ) to his wife during the long filming . in one letter he say that they run across the twelve year old boudreaux in a café in cameron and louisiana . he have an acadian accent and have trap with his father and could handle a cajun pirogue and and have an infectious smile . they figure he be perfect for the part but and since he be bear out of wedlock and under age and there be significant difficulty under louisiana law to be work out before he could be sign on . leacock letter be quite frank . in one he note that there be buzz about the visit from the director of all standard oil public relation and that flaherty do not like him and refer to him a the old bastard . this be a wonderful film in the literal sense of the word wonderful .