Product Description

Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 09/23/2005 Director: Ken Burns

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7345 in DVD
• Brand: Paramount
• Released on: 2004-09-28
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 153 minutes

Customer Reviews

A Great Piece on Frank Lloyd Wright
This is an excellent documetary. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in learning more about architecture generally and Frank Lloyd Wright specifically.

The material covered is a well done overview of the architecture of the 20th century, as seen through the lens of FLW's life. I found it an amazing tale. There is much to learn about architecture here - the history and scenes are fantastic. From the early days of the skyscraper, to his domestic work (Pairie Houses), to Falling Water (the transformative piece of domestic architecture), the ultimate masterpiece of the Guggenheim - it's all here and well told, and shown. The commentary by Philip Johnson - a longtime FLW antagonist, but ultimately an admirer, is powerful and poignant.

On a personal note, I found the life of FLW inspiring - not in the details or setbacks, but taken for the whole. How many individuals can say their most productive period was after their 70's?

Bravo to Burns - this is one of his finest works; on one of the best of subjects.

I hope others enjoy this DVD as much as I did.

Frank Lloyd Wright
I have never really understood the man (frank lloyd wright), behind the master teacher he ultimately became.... and in this film I have been profoundly surprised and impacted by his life's story.
I would recommend this film to anyone. It is a sensitive and brilliantly made documentary, laced with beethoven's music throughout, and impeccably built together, frame by frame on film, as Mr. Wright's buildings were.
As the documentary progressed, ultimately building to a tender yet impactful crescendo, this man's life's story brought tears to my eyes when it was over. Mr. Wright was an incredible human being....despite devastating loses he had to endure,he had the courage and fearlessness to tread a path no one ever dreamed possible, yet he did.... and during at ime where it was almost impossible to be 'free.' I loved this film. Please do not miss it.

Really a Wonderful Film...
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Yes, this is a really wonderful film in many ways:

of course Ken Burns has achieved his style with his historical presentations: the photographs and old films; the music; the narrations and commentaries, etc. But in this particular film they all come together and gel in a remarkable way--probably due to the subject matter of Wright himself.

Wright himself said that he recognized Beethoven as a master architect as revealed in his musical architechonics: in this film, Burns coordinates mostly Beethoven's music with visions of Wright's buildings: a masterful and moving audiovisual combination.

Wright was a very remarkable man of genius. If he had been born in England or Germany, for example, he probably would have had a more successful career than he did, for here he was persecuted like Oscar Wilde for his aberant sexuality. This bogus-Puritanical hypocrisy hindered his career, and he was therefore unable to produce as much work as he could have otherwise.

In any case, he synthesized Art Nouveau, Arts & Crafts aesthetic, Sessessionist, Jugenstil, Japanese, and Bauhaus into the most unique visions of architecture the world has ever known.
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