These unconsummated projects at M-G-M include "National Velvet" (1944) and "The Yearling" (1946), the later in which Vidor presided over a failed attempt to produce a population of juvenile deer who would be age-appropriate throughout the production (female deer refused to reproduce out of season). Both films would be completed by the director Clarence Brown. Vidor further invested six months shooting an Amazon River survival-adventure, "The Witch in the Wilderness" from which he was diverted to perform pre-production for "Northwest Passage" (1940). This period would be one of transition for Vidor but would lead to an artistic phase where he created some of his richest and most characteristic works.