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Alone in the Wilderness |  | Director: Bob Swerer
Studio: Bob Swerer Productions
Category: DVD
Buy New: $24.95
as of 9/9/2010 10:25 MDT details
New (4) Used (2) from $24.95
Seller: bobswererjr
Rating:  66 reviews
Sales Rank: 4793
Format: Color, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English (Unknown)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Region: 1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 60 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
UPC: 689076235624
EAN: 0689076235624
ASIN: B0009PUAFG
Theatrical Release Date: 2005
Publication Date: 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
"Alone in the Wilderness" is the story of Dick Proenneke.
To live in a pristine land unchanged by man...
to roam a wilderness through which few other humans have passed...
to choose an idyllic site, cut trees and build a log cabin...
to be a self-sufficient craftsman, making what is needed from materials available...
to be not at odds with the world, but content with one's own thoughts and company...
Thousands have had such dreams, but Dick Proenneke lived them.
He found a place, built a cabin, and stayed to become part of the country.
This video "Alone in the Wilderness" is a simple account of the day-to-day
explorations and activities he carried out alone, and the constant chain of
nature's events that kept him company.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 66
Heaven Is Only 4000 Miles to the North June 16, 2005
Christopher (Wengen-en-esprit)
171 out of 183 found this review helpful
I left Colorado's light several days ago to work in hazy Los Angeles. The drive out is always a reminder of what I am leaving, as the intimidatingly enormous 14ers (like Gray's Peak) loom over I-70 -- almost daring me to leave -- slowly disintegrate into staggered planes and red rock plateaus, in turn losing their scorched colors and fading into a clay-type desert. It is here I feel really alone.
In the motel during my night-over in Utah, I watched Alone in the Wilderness. I had missed the first few minutes, but wasn't paying attention much. What caught my eye right off the bat was the color. Films don't look like this today, they are all cartoony, over-saturated digital oilslicks. Wilderness was grainy, faded, low-contrast, and quite remarkable to watch, until I realized what was going on, really noticed what the film was about.
Here was a man, who left his job to live secluded from the (technological) world. He built a cabin without disturbing the trees directly around his plot. He eventually added a beautiful chimney, made of stones collected throughout various hikes at varying altitudes. He built snowshoes and a dog-sled (despite the lack of dogs), and a backpack that could carry anything (slab of wood for a table top, or nearly an entire caribou). At one point, he needs a wooden spoon, so -- where today we would hop in the car, drive through traffic to a store and purchase one -- he carves a wonderful spoon out of wood, polished and perfected and filmed in less than an hour.
I couldn't help but wonder if this film was a godsend; am I doing the right thing moving away from the mountains, where I am constantly outdoors in the sunshine? In California, I spend my days indoors, looking out into traffic, and usually I'm too busy to care. In the evenings, I have headaches, and easily become grumpy.
What is it we want in life? Alone in the Wilderness does not preach "leave the complex, live for simplicity." The film doesn't preach at all, in fact. The viewer simply watches this man's life, which is a far cry from "simple," by the way; it is constant work to stay warm and well-fed. The dangers of the surrounding wildlife isn't far from Mr. Proenneke's walls of comfort. In one hilarious moment, though, Mr. Proenneke turns the camera onto a wolverine that had been avoiding him, only to capture it rolling (literally sprawled out, rolling!) down a huge snowy hillside, enjoying the powdery snow and the bright sunshine.
At my young age, I must do what I feel is right for me. But that doesn't mean I can't put this disc in the player and vicariously live through a man far more brave and happy than I could ever be.
A Beautiful Short Film... September 27, 2005
Ken R. Santiago
77 out of 81 found this review helpful
I bought the DVD because when I saw this on PBS I was simply mesmerized by it's simple and calm beauty. True, the skills Dick had and the way he built tools and his cabin was very cool, but I thought the greatest part of the film was his love for nature. Even though he had to shoot and eat a Ram, he still felt bad for the old guy. The little clip of the wolverine rolling down the snowy hill was unreal. I love wolverines!!! The only part I did not like was the ending narration by the woman, who said something to the effect that his spirit will live on in the perfect notches of his logs. Wrong! It lives on in that beautiful Alaskan boreal wilderness called Twin Lakes...the moss, the spruce trees, the blueberry bushes, all the mountains and lakes, and the animals.
Beautiful adventure movie December 2, 2005
Fred Williams (Capital City)
42 out of 43 found this review helpful
When you first see this movie you will probably think it was shot for the movie theatres but it is really just one guy with a camera documenting his adventure in the wilderness. Little did he know he did such a great job it rivals what is released today in both quality and interest.
You will also be amazed at how easy he makes it seem to live alone in the wilderness, building a cabin and surviving through very cold temperatures, and along the way documenting things such as air and water temperatures, ice depths, animal movements, etc. He also shows how he built things he needed like a spoon and sled, also how he found food and kept warm through the winter.
And the beauty of the area is astounding! No wonder he picked it for a location to live, a nice lake and mountain range, he shows the surrounding area as well, climbing to the highest peaks to film.
The only drawback here is the film is too short, apparently he filmed much more but most was lost due to deterioration of the movie reels. What is left here is a real gem, a must for anyone that loves nature. Great narration caps it off, a real treat for all.
Alone No More! December 5, 2005
Paul Gross (central usa)
34 out of 36 found this review helpful
This film saved me alot of time and money. I'd always had a dream to do this. It's one thing to leave everything, when there wasn't much to leave, but this man left modern convenience behind. He left TV, radio and telephone. He left everything that we take for granted in our lives, everything that everyone can't live without. He didn't take bug spray! He didn't even have a dog! The lure of freedom is enormous. Most people want what this man got in some form or another, but the price tag for most is way too high. In todays world, you could buy this kind of freedom, but once you get channeled by "the system" you become hardened, and are conditioned by the rules and regulations invented by man. Todays environment preaches hard-work and structure to "get ahead". To chuck-it-all would be an embarassment in the eyes of peers and family, and therefore we are all victims of our own environments and self-made realities (no matter how much money we have). What this man did was not easy, just think about what he had to leave, what he had give up, and once so, could never go back. Those cold -80 nights and -40 days. It's amazing he did it, and us viewers not knowing what he left behind. What were the motivators? We can only speculate. But for anyone who's ever experienced a BAD camping trip, and know how miserable it is to be wet, cold and dirty.. what this man did was nothing short of amazing, and I could watch it over and over.
One man's answer to the call of the wild February 27, 2006
Kimberley Wilson (VA USA)
24 out of 25 found this review helpful
A lot of people fantasize about running off to Alaska and living in the wilderness. In 1968,One man, Dick Proenneke actually did it and luckily for us he took his cameras and diary with him. Proenneke was a tough guy with a gentle humor and an almost poetic love of nature. He built his own cabin, hunted, fished, planted and watched the wildlife go by. He lived like this for 30 years and only left because at 80 something he felt like he was slowing down a bit.
After watching for only a few minutes I was struck by how much you need to know in order to survive in the wild for even a few days. Proenneke was a carpenter and mason and had a good knowlege of science. His idea for a "refrigerator" probably would never occur to most of us today. I only wish the documentary could've been longer. The life of Dick Proenneke was really remarkable. I plan to get the book that goes along with the film. If you love the TV show Survivorman (I do) then Alone in the Wilderness is perfect for you.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 66
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