August 05, 2003
picturing a metropolis
The National Film Theatre has a season of early (1893-1941) American avant-garde film... but before you close your browser, it's really good, especially the collection I saw last night, Picturing a Metropolis: NYC Unveiled.
This saw 12 shorts, produced between 1902 and 1940, showing the growth, expansion, and decadence of New York in the early 20th century. Silent films were accompanied on piano, which is a great experience.
My favourites were the earlier pieces, showing the deconstruction of the Star Theatre, Coney Island at Night (others by the same director), and the NY Subway from 14th St to 42nd St.
There is something really special about this time: the present must have felt like the future, invention and innovation at the speed of electricity, Art Deco, the bravura of airships and skyscrapers. And everyone in top hats or bowlers.
All films had something of value: maps of New Amsterdam in 1606 (a similar one from 1672), a brief glimpse of workers high up on a skyscraper (if I'd lugged a movie camera up that far, I'd want to use more than a few seconds), a short documentary on Fort Lee; the original Hollywood, and a lighter ending: Lullaby of Broadway [warning: spoiler] from Gold Diggers of 1935, a Busby Berkeley classic.
To note - the links to the first pieces take you to American Memory, historical collections for the National Digital Library.
This is a stunning resource, featuring many of Edison's original films, a huge map collection, Coca Cola ads from the 50s... it goes on and on. It puts the UK to shame. We lock up resources in dusty archives, or, at best, pay-per-play sites. Neither the BFI or the NMPFT have something similar. It's not even worth asking if the Government has organised something. *sigh*.
[edit: the film programme credits Cineric Inc.. Finally found a link to the Unseen Cinema site - it's touring Europe, Australasia and America.]
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