movies_creation
American Movie Archives (美國電影檔案)
- Title
- City, The (Part I)
- Year
- 1939
- Abstract
- The Regional Planning Association of America's plea for community chaotic cities and urban sprawl. Directors: Ralph Steiner and Willard Van Dyke. Script: Henwar Rodakiewicz, from an outline by Pare Lorentz. Commentary written by Lewis Mumford. Narrator: Morris Carnovsky. Photography: Ralph Steiner, Willard Van Dyke, Jules V.D. Bucher, Edward Anhalt, Roger Barlow and Rudolph Bretz. Editor: Theodore Lawrence. Music: Aaron Copland.
- Notes
-
Produced: American Documentary Films, Inc.
Sponsor: American Institute of Planners, through Civic Films, Inc.
Run Time: 15:48
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W - Keyword
- Sustainability: 1930s;City planning;Regionalism;City planning;Regionalism
- Theme
- Good City/Bad City
- Review
-
In this appeal to razing down neighborhood slums, the plea to build new cities, and get rid of the ghettos is emphasized. Strikingly visual for such a messaged film, the narration is pretty sparse, sticking with visuals of the city ala Baraka and Koyaanisquatsi. What I like about this film is again the visuals, treating petty items such as road signs into work of art, and it's salute to the car is very masterful as well. What I didn't like, I didn't really think the narration needed to be there, I would be perfectly happy with just the visuals alone, rather then the somewhat stilted narrative. Still, I think this is a reccomended film. Turn down the volume during the narration, and then turn it back up again when the (excellent) music starts up again.
(Reviewer: Spuzz) - Location
- A/V room, 2/F