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 the film contains no dialogue, it is possible to create a fresh soundtrack and discover musical riches inaudible on the original monaural recording. As Copland created no suite from The City , the present DVD at the same time marks the WORLD PREMIÈRE RECORDING of this music in its entirety.
AARON COPLAND The City
The classic 1939 documentary film with a newly recorded soundtrack.
Francis Guinan, narrator Post-Classical Ensemble Angel Gil-Ordóñez, conductor
Bonus: - 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.
Picture format: NTSC 4:3 Audio format: Dolby Digital / DTS Surround Region code: 0 (worldwide) Running time: 132 mins No. of DVDs: 1 (DVD 9)
