City, The
- Synopsis
- Based on the Lewis Mumford book, ‘The Culture of Cities’, which analyses the historical phases and modern social consequences of metropolitan life. Made for the 1939 New York World’s Fair ("The World of Tomorrow"), THE CITY is a seminal documentary film distinguished for the organic integration of narration (scripted by city planner Lewis Mumford), cinematography (Ralph Steiner and Willard Van Dyke), and music (Aaron Copland). The score, arguably Copland’s highest achievement in film, was also his ticket to Hollywood; it has been called "an astonishing missing link not only in the genesis of Copland’s Americana style but in American music and cinema" (Mark Swed, The Los Angeles Times). As Copland created no suite from THE CITY, the 2009 DVD version marks the first recording of this music in its entirety other than the original film.
DVD extras include: :
- THE CITY (1939) - with the original 1939 soundtrack, featuring Morris Carnovsky (narrator) and an orchestra conducted by Max Goberman
- Which Playground for your Child: Greenbelt or Gutter? (2000) - a documentary from the Greenbelt Museum featuring interviews with three Greenbelt "pioneers"; George Stoney in conversation with Joseph Horowitz (2007) - a legendary documentary film-maker revisits The City. - Language
- English
- Country
- United States
- Year of release
- 2009
- Year of production
- 1939
- Subjects
- Architecture; Geography; Music; Sociology
- Keywords
- cities; cities & towns; film music; Mumford, Lewis; new towns; town & regional planning; Copland,Aaron
Credits
- Director
- Ralph Steiner; Willard Van Dyke
- Producer
- Ralph Steiner
- Writer
- Lewis Mumford
- Composer
- Aaron Copland
- Cast
Willard Van Dyke
Distribution Formats
- Type
- DVD
- Format
- Region 2 PAL
- Price
- £14.99
- Availability
- Sale
- Duration/Size
- 132 minutes
- Year
- 2009
- Type
- Film
- Format
- 16mm
- Availability
- Hire
Production Company
- Name
Civic Films
Sponsor
Distributor
- Name
Naxos Records
- Web
- https://www.naxos.com/ External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 01737 645600
- Address
- Unit 8, Salbrook Industrial Estate
Salbrook Road, Salfords
Redhill
RH1 5GJ
UK
Distributor (Hire)
- Name
BFI Film Bookings Unit
- bookings.films@bfi.org.uk
- Web
- http://www.bfi.org.uk/about-bfi/help-faq/film-bookings External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 020 7957 8938 / 8935
- Address
- 21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Distributor (Sale)
- Name
Moviemail
- Web
- https://www.simplyhe.com/3000-moviemail External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 0844 848 2000
- Address
- Simply Home Entertainment
PO Box 7741
Ringwood
BH24 9FA
UK - Notes
- As of December 2016 the Moviemail web presence is incorporated within the Simply Media website
Available from retail outlets
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