Desert Venture (Part I) (1948)

★★★★ · Hey! I've Got a Great Idea! Let's Drill for Oil in the Middle East! · Christine Hennig · 2006-01-07

This 40s film, made by Standard Oil of California, documents the initial search for oil in Saudi Arabia, and how its discovery was so beneficial for Americans, Arabs, starving war victims in Europe, and, oh, everybody all over the world. The film itself is fairly straightforward and unsurprising, but the ironic baggage it carries in light of future events is humongous. Perhaps the most ironic moment is a map that turns arrows pointing from North and South America to Europe, indicating the flow of oil, to a huge arrow going from the middle east to Europe. Point that arrow everywhere and you…

★★★★ · We should be so thankful · Spuzz · 2003-10-14

If you can get past the Saudis forever smiling to the Americans, this is a highly enjoyable educational film on how of course, the Americans were resposible for Oil in Saudi Arabia. Show with amaying color photography, this film was surpisingly easy to follow along and doesnt really get caught in scientific mumbo jumbo. I liked how the American workers in Saudi Arabia were treated to a health club, swimming pool, nice homes etc but what facilities provided for Saudi Arabian workers were not really explored.