The plow that broke the plains" depicts the social and economic history of the Great Plains from the settlement of the prairies by cattlemen and farmers through the World War I boom to drought and depression. "The river" traces life in the Mississippi River Valley during the previous 150 years, showing the consequences of sharecropping, soil exhaustion, unchecked erosion and floods, and concludes with scenes of regional planning, TVA development and federal efforts.

"The original Pare Lorentz films with newly recorded soundtracks of the classic scores by Virgil Thomson." Program and biographical notes (7 p.) inserted in container. Original sountrack option enables the original orchestration and narration for both films. Conductor, Alexander Smallens ; narrator, Thomas Chalmers. Special features: George Stoney on The Plow and The River (15 min.) -- Stoney on the New Deal, The River, and race (6 min.) -- Charles Fussell on Virgil Thomson (18 min.) -- Virgil Thomson on Virgil Thomson (audio only) (8 min.) --The original ending of The Plow that Broke the Plains (4 min.) --The original beginning of The Plow that Broke the Plains (3 min.).

The plow that broke the Plains : a U.S. documentary film (1936) (27 min.) -- The river : a U.S. documentary film (1938) (32 min.).