Global Treasures: Mount Rushmore

Global Treasures: Mount Rushmore is a spellbinding tour of one of America's most iconic landmarks. As part of the acclaimed Global Treasures series, this documentary offers a visually stunning and informative look at the history, creation, and grandeur of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

The film opens with beautiful scenic shots that encapsulate the natural beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, setting an aesthetic tone that's maintained throughout the program. These establishing images cut through to Mount Rushmore, which, with its four spectacular presidential faces carved into it, has been a symbol of American potential and fortitude since its completion in 1941.

Global Treasures: Mount Rushmore is not just about the grandeur of this monumental sculpture, though; it is an homage to an artistic dream, a testament to determination and the resilience of the human spirit. The film traces the history of Mount Rushmore, beginning with the vision of the South Dakota historian, Doane Robinson. It skillfully weaves together the ambition of Robinson, who aimed to promote tourism in South Dakota by sculpting notable figures into the Black Hills, with the story of sculptor Gutzon Borglum, the man who actualized this vision by immortalizing four of the greatest American presidents on the massive granite face of Mount Rushmore.

In compelling detail, the film documents Borglum's painstaking efforts, making it clear that the monument is not merely a remarkable work of artistic craftsmanship, but also a gigantic feat of engineering. Over the span of 14 years, Borglum, his son Lincoln, and their team of dedicated workers used dynamites, drills, and their bare hands in the grueling sculpting process. Together, they entrusted the visages of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln to the unyielding stone, creating what is, today, one of the most recognized symbols of the United States.

Global Treasures: Mount Rushmore strikes a balance between history and art, between vision and execution, underlining the rugged idealism that inspired the monument's creation. The film provides fascinating insights into the selection of the four presidents that feature on Mount Rushmore. Each president was chosen for embodying specific attributes key to the progression of American history: Washington signifies the birth of the nation, Jefferson depicts the territorial expansion, Roosevelt represents the development of global relations, and Lincoln stands for the preservation of the nation during the Civil War.

The film's narrative is dramatized with historical facts, aided by rare historical photos, archive footage, and interviews with historical scholars, which intensify the viewer's understanding of the whole project. The program also thoroughly explains how climatic elements and the passage of time have affected this massive stone monument and talks in-depth about ongoing conservation efforts aiming to preserve this iconic sculpture for future generations.

The marvelous camera work of Global Treasures: Mount Rushmore truly shines in the cinematic, close-up views of the colossal portraits. The detailed faces, set against the backdrop of the clear, South Dakota sky, creates an atmosphere of awe and reverence. The equally majestic aerial views of the monument, revealing the breathtaking expanse of the surrounding landscape, are immersive and visceral.

Complementing the robust storytelling and the splendid cinematography, is the film's soundtrack, steeped in a mix of stirring orchestral music and traditional American folk tunes that enhance the overall viewing experience.

Global Treasures: Mount Rushmore isn't just a visually rich travelogue; it is also an educational documentary. It informs while it entertains, offering viewers an up-close and personal tour of Mount Rushmore that they might not otherwise have a chance to experience. This film tells an inspiring tale about the monument that has huge historical significance, demonstrating America's past, present, and future.

In conclusion, Global Treasures: Mount Rushmore is an opportunity to explore one of America's greatest national treasures from the comfort of your home. Witness the majesty of the iconic monument, understand its historical relevance, encounter the monument's challenge to nature and time, and appreciate the fathomless depths of inspiration it emanates. Whether you're a history buff, a lover of the arts, or an admirer of human achievement, Global Treasures: Mount Rushmore is a film that's well worth watching.