For this year, I have done a watch-through of a documentary on New York City. It’s called New York: A Documentary Film. The series is an eight-episode, 17 1/2 hour, American documentary film on New York City’s history. It was produced by Steeplechase Films and aired on PBS. It was made by Ric Burns and James Sanders. The series aired on November 1999 (25 years ago) with the first 5 episodes airing from the 14th to the 18th. After almost 2 years later, the series returned with another 2 episodes that aired at the end of September and the beginning October 2001 (ironically after the 9/11 attacks). Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, Ric and James decided to produce an eighth episode of the series centered on the World Trade Center and how it served New York until it’s destruction in 2001, which was aired in September 2003. The series was narrated by David Ogden Stiers and the music was composed by Brian Keane (using music from other sources in episodes). Other people who are part of or know New York are also included including Rudolph Giuliani, Mike Wallace, Kenneth T. Jackson, Peter Hamill, Robert A.M. Stern, future president Donald Trump, etc.
This November, I’ve done another watch through of the series for it’s 25th anniversary and I will say, I love this documentary series of New York City. This series does a really good job on documenting the history of the biggest city in the United States. I’ve learned a lot about it like when it was founded (which this year has been 400 years since), how it grew and changed over the decades and notable events that happened.
For narration, David Ogden Stiers did an outstanding job presenting the documentary as a whole. His soothing voice really makes it worth watching. In my opinion though, in episodes 1-3, he sounds a bit monotone while narrating, like he was narrating early in the morning. However, I love his narrations in the later half of the series as he does deliver more energy to his narration, while still having his soothing tone. As for music, Brian Keane went all out with this documentary as most of his music scores are beautiful and calming. My favorite cues from him include Dark History Theme, Transformation, Famine Irish, Dark History Waltz, The City Comes Back, Chant D’Auvergnes, New York Swing, Dark Building Theme, and saving the best for last, City of Dreams. I also find it interesting that other pieces of music were used such as Rhasbody in Blue and Perpetuum Mobile.
For the episodes, I enjoyed all of them. My most favorite is Cosmopolis as I love learning about the roaring 1920s, the Jazz Age, the crash of the Stock Market and the construction of the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building. I also love City of Tomorrow for how it documents how New York went through the Great Depression and how Fiorello La Guardia and Robert Moses made changes to the city for the future and The Center of the World for the series’ take on the rise and fall of the World Trade Center. As for weakest episode, it’s Order and Disorder. Whenever I watched this episode, I ended up losing focus on it. However, on my 25th anniversary rewatch, I learned more of the stuff that I missed out on such as lack of police that was available, riots that happened and how New York went through the Civil War. I will say I still consider it the weakest episode, but I was glad to look at it with a fresh mind.
Here’s my ranking and rating for each of the eight episodes:
1. Cosmopolis (10/10) 2. City of Tomorrow (10/10) 3. Center of the World (10/10) 4. The City and the World (10/10) 5. The Power and the People (9.5/10) 6. The Country and the City (9.5/10) 7. Sunshine and Shadow (9/10) 8. Order and Disorder (9/10)
This is one documentary film series I definitely recommend checking it out. Side note: The Series isn’t over yet as two more episodes called The Future of Cities are coming out. Don’t know when that will be, but am looking forward.
Erikthetrainmaster611
For this year, I have done a watch-through of a documentary on New York City. It’s called New York: A Documentary Film. The series is an eight-episode, 17 1/2 hour, American documentary film on New York City’s history. It was produced by Steeplechase Films and aired on PBS. It was made by Ric Burns and James Sanders. The series aired on November 1999 (25 years ago) with the first 5 episodes airing from the 14th to the 18th. After almost 2 years later, the series returned with another 2 episodes that aired at the end of September and the beginning October 2001 (ironically after the 9/11 attacks). Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, Ric and James decided to produce an eighth episode of the series centered on the World Trade Center and how it served New York until it’s destruction in 2001, which was aired in September 2003. The series was narrated by David Ogden Stiers and the music was composed by Brian Keane (using music from other sources in episodes). Other people who are part of or know New York are also included including Rudolph Giuliani, Mike Wallace, Kenneth T. Jackson, Peter Hamill, Robert A.M. Stern, future president Donald Trump, etc.
This November, I’ve done another watch through of the series for it’s 25th anniversary and I will say, I love this documentary series of New York City. This series does a really good job on documenting the history of the biggest city in the United States. I’ve learned a lot about it like when it was founded (which this year has been 400 years since), how it grew and changed over the decades and notable events that happened.
For narration, David Ogden Stiers did an outstanding job presenting the documentary as a whole. His soothing voice really makes it worth watching. In my opinion though, in episodes 1-3, he sounds a bit monotone while narrating, like he was narrating early in the morning. However, I love his narrations in the later half of the series as he does deliver more energy to his narration, while still having his soothing tone. As for music, Brian Keane went all out with this documentary as most of his music scores are beautiful and calming. My favorite cues from him include Dark History Theme, Transformation, Famine Irish, Dark History Waltz, The City Comes Back, Chant D’Auvergnes, New York Swing, Dark Building Theme, and saving the best for last, City of Dreams. I also find it interesting that other pieces of music were used such as Rhasbody in Blue and Perpetuum Mobile.
For the episodes, I enjoyed all of them. My most favorite is Cosmopolis as I love learning about the roaring 1920s, the Jazz Age, the crash of the Stock Market and the construction of the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building.
I also love City of Tomorrow for how it documents how New York went through the Great Depression and how Fiorello La Guardia and Robert Moses made changes to the city for the future and The Center of the World for the series’ take on the rise and fall of the World Trade Center. As for weakest episode, it’s Order and Disorder. Whenever I watched this episode, I ended up losing focus on it. However, on my 25th anniversary rewatch, I learned more of the stuff that I missed out on such as lack of police that was available, riots that happened and how New York went through the Civil War. I will say I still consider it the weakest episode, but I was glad to look at it with a fresh mind.
Here’s my ranking and rating for each of the eight episodes:
1. Cosmopolis (10/10)
2. City of Tomorrow (10/10)
3. Center of the World (10/10)
4. The City and the World (10/10)
5. The Power and the People (9.5/10)
6. The Country and the City (9.5/10)
7. Sunshine and Shadow (9/10)
8. Order and Disorder (9/10)
This is one documentary film series I definitely recommend checking it out. Side note: The Series isn’t over yet as two more episodes called The Future of Cities are coming out. Don’t know when that will be, but am looking forward.
10 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 0