Tale of the Navajos

Though running 52 minutes, which under any other circumstance would qualify it as a feature, Tale of the Navajos was designated a short subject when picked up for distribution by MGM. Lensed in Technicolor, this documentary details the history of the Navajo Indians, concluding with the tribe's contemporary activities. Well-composed shots of Navajo men, women and children going about their daily tasks are complemented with a portentous narration, making constant allusions to Indian traditions, religious beliefs and mythology. Also included are snippets of Native American poetry, rendered in dramatic fashion by narrator Edward Jerome. Hardly an in-depth treatment of its subject, Tale of the Navajos works better as travelogue than as a sociological document.