Narrator, Encke King. Originally produced as a motion picture in 2003. Special features: The Tony Longo trilogy (2014, 14 minutes) a short film by Thom Andersen; theatrical trailer; collectible booklet featuring essays by Mike Davis, author of "City of quartz: excavating the future of Los Angeles" and Thom Andersen.
Contents:
Part one : Another way to look at movies -- Reality and representation -- Locations -- Hollywood -- "L.A." and "the industry" -- The city as background: the city with no name -- The Bradbury Building -- The decline of public spaces -- Benign lies -- Geographic license and literalism -- Modern architecture -- Landmarks -- Disaster movies -- The city as character: James M. Cain -- A brighter world -- Film noir -- Things that aren't there any more -- Bunker Hill -- Part two : High tourist/low tourist -- The outside men: Deray, Antonioni, Demy -- The city as subject: Chinatown -- Modes of transportation -- Downtown vs. the suburbs -- Blade Runner -- L.A. confidential -- Cops -- The provincialism of over-privilege -- Neorealism. Booklet : The introduction / Thom Andersen -- Tourists from hell / Mike Davis -- Los Angeles a city on film / Thom Andersen.
Summary:
"Thom Andersen's landmark documentary explores the tangled relationship between the movies and their fabled hometown, as seen entirely through the films themselves. From its distinctive neighborhoods to its architectural homes, Los Angeles has been the backdrop to countless movies. Andersen takes viewers on a whirlwind tour through the metropolis' real and cinematic history, investigating the myriad stories and legends that have come to define it, and revealing the real city that lives beneath" --Container.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.