Alaska: A Modern Frontier

Although overseen by an associate professor of geography at Indiana University back in 1948, one could easily be forgiven for making the mistake of coming away from Alaska A Modern Frontier with the message Drill, baby, drill.

Nearly a decade before its annexation as a state, this short film professes the new land rush in post-WW2 Alaska, where if you don’t get a piece now, you’ll be left empty-handed.

Much of the film shows very little of the colder, darker winter months.

Some of the most interesting footage does not occur until near the end when encountering native Alaskans still practicing their traditional way of life.