Cane Toads - An Unnatural History

Cane Toads - An Unnatural History


Starring:Tip Byrne, H.W. Kerr, Glen Ingram, Bill Freeland, E.S. Edgerton, Pat White (III), John Oakes, Patrick Cook, David Sondergard, Rob Floyd, Elvie Grieg, Max Ackland, Brian Hawke, Bob Endean, Dr. Michael Archer, Edgar (II), Anonymous (XXVI), Bill Lane (II), Syd Churchill, Paul De Vine
Director: Mark Lewis (VII)
Studio: First Run Features
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
This odd documentary is for the audience that can't get enough of off-center, real-life tales akin to those captured by Errol Morris (Gates of Heaven). In the 1930s Australian sugar-cane farmers imported the bufo marinus, or cane toad, from Hawaii to destroy the crop-damaging greyback beetle. In short, the descendents of the original 102 toads virtually took over half a continent. We hear from all sides about the problem: the scientific studies of their mating habits (bruising), defense systems (poison that can kill a predator), and their eating habits (almost anything). Much of Mark Lewis's short film sticks with the common folk and their polarized feelings about the animal. Told with a great amount of wit, this 1987 documentary illustrates that the strangest things on film are always true. --Doug Thomas
Description
A fat, ugly creature whose sole purpose in life is the pursuit of sexual gratification is rapidly taking over Australia! The Cane Toads were imported by the sackload from Hawaii to Australia in 1935 in an attempt to rid the country of the Greyback beetle, which was rapidly destroying their sugarcane crop. The Cane Toads adapted beautifully to their new surroundings. Problem was, the beetle could fly and the Cane Toad couldn't. What the Cane Toad is unusually good at, however, is making more Cane Toads--thousands upon thousands more. If Monty Python produced a National Geographic Special, it would be Cane Toads!
Cane Toads - An Unnatural History
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • I need to move to Australia
  • Cane Toads - campy but informative
  • Environmentally sound!
  • Funny, informative, and ridiculous
  • The truth is stranger than fiction
 Cane Toads - An Unnatural History
Starring: Tip Byrne , H.W. Kerr , Glen Ingram , Bill Freeland , and E.S. Edgerton
Director: Mark Lewis (VII)
Manufacturer: First Run Features
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JG6X
Release Date: 2001-07-17

Amazon.com

This odd documentary is for the audience that can't get enough of off-center, real-life tales akin to those captured by Errol Morris (Gates of Heaven). In the 1930s Australian sugar-cane farmers imported the bufo marinus, or cane toad, from Hawaii to destroy the crop-damaging greyback beetle. In short, the descendents of the original 102 toads virtually took over half a continent. We hear from all sides about the problem: the scientific studies of their mating habits (bruising), defense systems (poison that can kill a predator), and their eating habits (almost anything). Much of Mark Lewis's short film sticks with the common folk and their polarized feelings about the animal. Told with a great amount of wit, this 1987 documentary illustrates that the strangest things on film are always true. --Doug Thomas

Description

A fat, ugly creature whose sole purpose in life is the pursuit of sexual gratification is rapidly taking over Australia! The Cane Toads were imported by the sackload from Hawaii to Australia in 1935 in an attempt to rid the country of the Greyback beetle, which was rapidly destroying their sugarcane crop. The Cane Toads adapted beautifully to their new surroundings. Problem was, the beetle could fly and the Cane Toad couldn't. What the Cane Toad is unusually good at, however, is making more Cane Toads--thousands upon thousands more. If Monty Python produced a National Geographic Special, it would be Cane Toads!

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars I need to move to Australia.......2007-05-02

This is the perhaps the best movie I have every seen. It is informative and yet it somehow will make the viewer laugh throughout. I saw it in a class and had to come home and buy it. All I can say now is that I want some Australian friends.

3 out of 5 stars Cane Toads - campy but informative.......2007-03-18

Somebody else said it was Monty Python meets Marlin Perkins. Throw in a little of "The Far Side", and you've got it. A decent documentary. It *does* demonstrate invasive species in action and highlights the perils of introducing animals or plants we don't understand into new envirmmonents.

5 out of 5 stars Environmentally sound!.......2006-12-18

This movie, although a cross between Monty Python and National Geographic, is a must for EVERY environmental student. I show this to my high school environmental classes every year to demonstrate how intoduced invasive species can decimate an ecosystem.

4 out of 5 stars Funny, informative, and ridiculous.......2006-07-10

I saw this on T.V. a few weeks ago really late at night. I really just wanna go to Australia with my pellet gun and waste these things after watching this. I'm not gonna go into detail and spoil the funny parts, but it's definitely worth the hour or so it takes to watch. Also through some research I've found that Cane Toads- An Unnatural History is completely factual despite its humor.

5 out of 5 stars The truth is stranger than fiction.......2006-03-22

This documentary is factual, hilarious, and very Australian. It provides interviews with different individuals, who relay their experience and opinions of the Cane Toad, an introduced species that is basically wiping out the Australian ecosystem north of Sydney. See the Canadian scientist with the slight flinch in his eye while he tells you of the toad induced death of his prized endangered cat. See the Aussie bloke in the Combi Van who likes to run over them ("if you get 'em just right, they go pop ...."). Fascinating info on the toad itself, as well.
Luckily, this is so warped and funny, that you hardly notice the environmental catastrophe. EVERY AUSTRALIAN SHOULD SEE THIS.

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