New York: A Documentary Film (1999–2003) User Reviews

A Masterpiece

[rfkfreak · 10/10 · 23 July 2003]

I happened along this documentary one Sunday afternoon after 9-11 in 2001. I originally was intrigued because I am a New Yorker but also because, sadly, I really didn't have as much knowledge about this great city that I live in as I should have and of course also because it was soon after that tragic day in September and I wanted to watch anything and everything relating to that day. To my surprise it didn't have anything with regard to 9-11, being completed before 2001. I continued to watch because I wanted to know more about the history of my city. Sure I knew about the Dutch, about the English taking over, the changing of the name but this film taught me a lot about people I didn't know much if anything about - Fiorello Laguardia, Al Smith, Walt Whitman - and whereas I knew about Lincoln and FDR to name two, my knowledge about their relation to New York was pitiful.

Anyone who has any desire to gain some knowledge about New York should watch this. I picked up the CD today because the songs on it are amazing - very deep and very emotional. Anyone who enjoys history will probably enjoy this film. I got it as a Christmas present in 2001 and it's been one of the best presents I've ever received.

A true masterpeice of the modern documentary.

[banana-35 · 9/10 · 27 July 2000]

After watching this documentary on New York I felt numb & amazed at the same time. The captivating stills, the archival footage & precise narration go together to make a perfect blend.

A must see film for any person who has a passion for modern history.

Easily THE definitive documentary on NY

[CabbyG3 · 10/10 · 23 October 2002]

The Ric Burns (Civil War, Jazz) documentary is thorough enough to teach even New Yorkers about native home. At 14 hours, perhaps that's not a hard thing to do, but it is worth every minute. At its heart, it's the story of NY from 1609 to 2000. But at its core, what you will take away from it is that New York's is the tale of America. "New York, more than any other city in the United States, tells the story of America to itself."-- and it does.

Most enlightening to potential viewers will be the last chapter "The city and the world" that brings us from the end of WWII into the present. The meat here is the whole "urban renewal" failure of the 80's and 90's, as well as the once and future problem of suburban expansion. And, as always, they show how New York was THE leader of the pack in all of these urban questions. In watching the documentary, you cannot help but realize that what happens in NY, inevitably happens in the rest of the USA. Ric Burns' documentary is so much more, part 3 is the true story of New York that Scorsese hopes to capture in "Gangs of New York" this December (not even he has a shot at this). This documentary is delightful in its simplicity and subtle in its sentimentality (no bashing over the head, "NY rules", and its all la-tee-da). Lovers and haters of NY are all interviewed and allowed to give their slant. Although the villification of Robert Moses and complete hatred of him is made manifest-- because it was true then and is true now. The films does not go into detail during wars, which I might have liked to see more of, but the fact is that NY (as you will see) has not played a large role in war, except as a stage for the rest of the US to play on (a-la VJ-day). Urbanists, the NY-curious, educators, the educated-- see this documentary.

The story of Walt Whitman, the story of Abe Lincoln, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie, Al Smith, la Guardia, FDR, George Washington, Stuyvesant, and more were MADE in New York City. New York has been referred to as a foreign city with over 50% of its people born outside of the country, but it turns out to be the most American of any city-- the real mixing pot, where everyone is forced to get along and to find a way to work together (the United Nations?). This film won 2001 Emmys for best editing and best non-fiction programming to give you an idea of its cinematic quality.

It is NOT about September 11th, but you connect 'what happens to NY, happens to the rest 10 years later' to that date, it begs the question. There are other documentaries about that NY event. NY was the first to experience a massive suicide bombing (episode 3) and it will likely be the first city again. Since the Civil War, you will see, it has been the First City of the world, the Capitol of the world. The best damn city, with one of the most remarkable histories of any place you could name-- laid out with great storytelling by Ric Burns' PBS documentary. 9.5/10

an elephantine story of one of the crucial cities of the mast thousand years (or more)

[Quinoa1984 · 9/10 · 7 December 2005]

Sure Ric Burns (related directly to TV-documentary maestro Ken) may not provide a documentary that is outright 'entertaining' like a Michael Moore film, or isn't strangely engaging in its montage like Errol Morris' The Fog of War, but he understands something that all good documentary filmmakers know. If you get your subject down, and what story of the subject you want to tell, the rest is just history, literally. And if you are a history buff at all, or just interested in the tales and lineage and drama that made what is New York City what it is today, this is the documentary to see. Of course, it's not an easy feat; like his brother Kens's Jazz documentary, New York is split up into seemingly countless hours of detail, going over its 300+ year history, from the days of Henry Hudson, to the Revolution, the the draft riots (covered brilliantly in Gangs of New York), the trials and tribulations of the immigrants, and leading up to 9/11.

It's basically the kind of documentary in which once you see one part of it, say part 2 covering 1830 to the 1870, or part 5 covering the early 1900's, and you want to see more, you'll know what you're getting. One could criticize the over-abundance of dramatic, TV-esquire music, the emphasis on piling on the weight on certain subjects over others, or that (ironically) the time given still isn't enough. But as one interviewee says, there is not one definitive book or books by an author that give a totally clear idea of what New York was like in such a time and place or another. For someone who has been to the Apple countless times, seen many of Manhattan and Bronx's sites, and recognized that New York carries with it the residue of dozens of passing generations and cultures and tragedies and joys, this serves as THE documentary, at least with information terms, what New York was. At the least, you can impress (some of) your friends and family with bits of information, like about Alexander Hamilton or how the formation of all the NYC roads were built, or the bits within the massive scope of the immigration stories.

A top-drawer, loving but clear-eyed history of New York

[kopilot111 · 10/10 · 21 April 2013]

This is a history of New York, and by extension a history of the U.S.

It is a loving history of a great city, beautifully executed. Like a sibling or parent of a flawed man, the historians and other contributors see the flaws but love the subject despite them.

A serious history of New York, like of the U.S., reflects the contradictions that go back to the very early days of this city and this country: A melting pot where people of many classes, nationalities, languages and religions learned to live and get along in close proximity – and where many people hated everyone unlike them, or who resented or oppressed everyone whose group arrived in a wave after their own. Where a spirit of democracy, community, equality, public service and a hand up for everyone who needed it resided side-by-side with unbridled greed, indifference to the suffering of others not doing as well as oneself, stupendous corruption, exploitation of slaves and virtual (wage) slaves.

Some of the other reviews seem to miss the message by a mile – the historians and other contributors provide useful insights – and accurate ones. I don't know if every numeric and temporal statement is dead-on accurate, but the thrust and the many, many details and nuances discussed throughout the series are correct. From the first line uttered by the narrator in Episode 1: "On September 2, 1609, Henry Hudson…"

The superlatives, too, are on the mark. Like it or not, New York has not only been a city of all kinds of "firsts" and "biggests" and "bests" but also has a more dynamic and interesting history than most others -- which is why these superlatives are so frequently present. If some day Burns chooses to make a documentary about St. Petersburg or London or Beijing, I'm sure there will be a lot of talk about those cities to the exclusion of all others. In other words, this is a documentary about New York, not a city in Australia, Egypt, France or Russia - where the 19th Century rural peasants DID live much as they had in the Middle Ages.

How anyone watching this series and paying attention, could miss the many, many more things Burns covers besides race, class and greed – is surprising. That the series discusses these frequently is not surprising – since long before Hudson sailed up the river later named for him – all 3 have been factors in the history of New York from 1609 to today. To ignore this fact would have been to whitewash the truth. Watch "Rambo" or "X-Men" if you want fiction. Burns and his contributors report these truths – and extol the many virtues – or strengths of New Yorkers famous and anonymous by way of explaining the evolution and rise to the top of the city.

Too slow? Really? It covers 400 years , an hour and a half per century for heaven's sake. Personally, I couldn't get enough.

VOLUME 8: THE CENTER OF THE WORLD

[gonzofilms · 10/10 · 8 September 2003]

In addition to the excellent documentary work that Ric Burns did on the original New York series, I am here to review the latest installment; Part 8"

Warning: Spoilers Ric Burns is an vibrant documentalist. In the first part of Volume 8, the documentary gives incredible depth to all aspects relating to the concept and erection of the Twin Towers. It further caputres the essence of the public sentiment before, during, and after its completion. Mr. Burns ability to not only recount events factually, but to also "breath" life into his film by delicately interweaving feelings and opinions from important figures, truly takes you back in time. And that's just the first two hours.

In the last hour, the documentary takes on the extremely sensitive nature of what truly has become New York's tragedy, or rather, one of the worst man-made moments in world history. He portrayes it with a intensely private, personal angle that it truly deserves.

Volume 8 "towers" above as landmark television, as its central focal point towers among the other skyscrapers. Additionally, it also stands out from the rest of the volumes in this incredible series as well. The lack of thoroughness and rushed atmosphere that volume 7 created was instantly erased with this offering. Kudos again to Ric Burns and James Sanders for writing this episode that spans from carefully laying out the foundation of the World Trade Center, to its still unthinkable end. Here in volume 8, everything is told, nothing is held back, and history is respectfully preserved. I highly recommend this film.

The saga of an ever changing city...So much history in a short period of historical time.

[mark.waltz · 10/10 · 6 July 2017]

Both loved and loathed, the former New Amsterdam is arguably the best known city in the United States, the best known city under 500 years old, and love them or despise them, the tourist trap of all tourist traps. But how did that all begin? It's been documented in volumes of books, some now dusty archives in the bowels of the New York public library. It's a city of immigrants, a city of transients, a city of the proud native who wouldn't leave the city, let alone their neighborhood, for anything.

This is a tale of how the five Burroughs got together as one mega city, how the names were influenced by its residents. Through readings, poetry of those who loved the city more than any other place on earth, through the memories of those still living remembering important people and events. Racial tensions, depression, war, political corruption, yet home to the greatest arts in America, that to rival the great museums and music halls and theaters of Europe.

The seven part documentary focuses on the history, the very important people both good and bad, the architecture, the social impact of every race, religion, culture and creed and how the financial industry was formulated. Vintage footage dating back to the nineteenth century shows the growth of the city. Lovingly narrated by veteran stage, screen and TV actor Davis Ogden Steirs, this never drags. Impacts of the end of slavery resulting in race riots and the Triangle Fire with have you in shock over their impact on every level of humanity.

Then there's the political machine, from the days of Alexander Hamilton (yes, the Hamilton of a certain rap musical drama) to Boss Tweed (a character in a forgotten musical called "Up in Central Park") to James J. Walker and Fiorello LaGuardia, subjects of their own Broadway shows. More famous and infamous New Yorkers are legendary today than residents of any other city. Is it any wonder that there are more songs about New York than any other city in the world?

While this ends just before the tragedy of September 11, 2001, there's enough history here to keep you glued. In fact, there is enough history in New York City itself to have a weekly documentary for a full year. Memories of historical New York exists everywhere you go, and if this opens you up to taking a walking tour to see those places, don't be surprised to feel the presence of ghostly figures. This is a city that has seen its triumphs and tragedies, its cruelties and kindnesses, and the welcoming of those who sought a new life after hearing about that amazing lady with the torch who still guards our harbor today.

It continues...and is amazing

[umpalmpa · 10/10 · 12 March 2006]

This epic documentary from Ric Burns covers all of the major events and people that have shaped the culture and rich history of the City of New York. It does, in episodes 6 and 7 go past 1931 (Episode 6 is 1929-1941 and Episode 7 is 1945-Present). All of the historians, writers and others that provide commentary for the film are wonderful and insightful, although they sometimes become repetitive. This is rare, however, and the great stills (and later film) carries the story along from its humble Dutch beginnings in 1609 all the way to the present day. New York is like nowhere else in the world; it is an entity unto itself. But, as F. Scott Fitzgerald notes, it is just a city and not a universe. But what a city. David Ogden Stiers does an incredible job narrating what is, in my humble opinion, the singular film about the history of New York.

One of the Best Documentaries on NYC Ever...

[mcasano · 15 February 2002]

Since my parents took me to a NYC automat when I was seven, I have always been fascinated by New York City. Ric Burns' documentary, "New York: A Documentary Film" made me love the city even more. I recently purchased the new 7 DVD set, which includes the recently completed episodes that brought the series up to 1999, before the tragedy of Sept. 11th. I was glued to the production immediately, from the majestic aerial footage to the great variety of historians, architects, writers and politicians who guide you through this historical tour. If you want to learn more about NYC, this documentary is your primer!

A powerful, fascinating, and tremendously educational series

[runamokprods · 10/10 · 26 September 2014]

An extraordinary 8 part, almost 18 hour history of New York City; it's politics, economics, architecture, and above all humanity, from the first arrival of white settlers. (I would have been curious to know more about the Native Americans who had been living there, but the focus is on New York as a city, which arguably started with the arrival of the Dutch).

I was born and lived the first half of my life in the city, was always passionate about it, and yet the program had so much fascinating information I didn't know – not only about the distant past, but the complex back-room city politics (some disastrously wrong headed, even aggressively racist) that were going on in my early years.

It's always lively, often touching and asks important questions about what makes a city and why they're so important -- as well as "how can a city keep 'modernizing', but not lose it's soul?" It also forced me to abandon some supposed "facts" I'd been brought up with as a New Yorker, like the idea that names of immigrants were commonly changed at Ellis Island.

The last episode, made after the rest of the documentary, is devoted entirely to the Word Trade Center; it's inception, it's building (and the complex, sometimes dark politics behind it), it's successes and failures as architecture and urban planning, and of course it's horrifying demise. While it's the most emotional of the episodes, it does feel a bit apart from the others, spending it's entire length on one very focused subject. Not a problem, other than a bit of change in style.

If one had to nit-pick it would probably be the use of hyperbole in some of the narration. I lost count of how many crises were 'the worst the city ever faced'. But that is a tiny fly in a ton of ointment.

The images, still and moving, are beautifully chosen (great seeing moving images from the turn of the century New York), the various expert talking heads are passionate and articulate, and I learned so much more than I expected.

It's interesting that film-maker Ric Burns' brother Ken has received so much more attention. I find Ric's many documentaries often the equal of Ken Burns' work, and indeed sometimes find them more emotional.

Worth the 5,000 hours

[mattblevins79 · 9/10 · 4 January 2019]

It's huge It's exhausting. It's exciting and educational. No, not New York City, but the 20 something hour documentary about it. The labarotory for capitalism, food, art and just about everything else you could imagine, NYC's history from its beginnings as New Amsterdam to 9/11 is done up well by Ric Burns (the not as famous brother of Ken). You may have to grease the palm of your significant other to pull off the time and effort required, but New York wouldn't have it any other way.

Comprehensive, interesting

[dlieb777 · 9/10 · 26 January 2002]

This documentary (7 DVD's) takes you from the beginning of New York City as a Dutch colony to somewhere around 1990. Unfortunately, much of the wonderful photography of the modern skyline is tragically dated, since the project was completed well before September 11th, 2001.

Regardless, what this documentary does best is to give you an insight into the most important personalities that shaped this city, e.g., Robert Moses, Al Smith, LaGuardia, Stuyvesent, etc. As a viewer, you get a feel for what it was like to live during all of the periods that were covered. The real detail of the series ends around 1970, so its better for covering earlier New York History.

Rewarding but flawed

[elision10 · 6/10 · 9 September 2019]

Much of this series is enjoyable and informative, but it also has substantial drawbacks. It's indulgent with the viewer's time -- some parts could have easily been sliced. A few great men, like Walt Whitman, are given too much attention. The impact of WWII on the city is mostly ignored.

But what I found most annoying was the tendentious stance on Robert Moses. His impact on the city was enormous, and the series would have you believe all of it was bad. But growing up on the Rockaway Peninsula, I enjoyed the benefits of many of his projects. Riis Park, the Belt Parkway, the Verrazzano Bridge...all of these significantly improved the quality of my family's life. The series makes little effort to note that the white middle class wanted out of the city one way or the other and that was not Moses's fault.

The series was made at a time when Moses's reputation was in free fall and perhaps that low estimation remains. But given New York's resurgence, I wonder if there will be a re-evaluation. I don't know if New York's current prosperity is more because or despite of Moses's impact -- perhaps the latter. But whatever he did, it has not stopped NYC from regaining its role as (perhaps) the leading city of the world.

interesting but deeply flawed account

[bananafisher · 3/10 · 23 December 2011]

I like New York. I think it is a fascinating city, one of the earliest skyscraper cities of the West, one of the most cosmopolitan and dynamic places, and I don't really care about the slow pace of the documentary, but really, to tolerate the sheer number of ludicrous statements in every chapter is too much for me. Whatever the subject, be it the amount of immigrants, the speed of construction, even the metro system, everything is in superlative. Hearing those 'historians' speaking about New York one might think there has never been urban history outside of it. It is always the best, the most, the densest, unheard of, unparalleled and etc. I mean, there are many valid points to make, as New York was a kind of first vertical metropolis of the West but the constant gratuitous exaggeration of everything annoyed the hell out of me.

In episode 4 I hear one of the historians saying that those immigrants from Russia where (I am paraphrasing) nothing has changed much from the medieval times suddenly found themselves in the most modern city on Earth. Really? I mean, Russia wasn't the most advanced state in the end of the XIXth century, but it was still one of the biggest empires and Saint-Petersburg was one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Or when they say that the density of population of East Harlem was the biggest ever seen in the history of humanity. Wow, why not in the history of the universe? Why be so modest? These constant exaggerations really spoils what is otherwise an interesting deep insight into the urban history of the Western immigrant culture.

If ever there was anything you wanted to know about New York's history, this is where you start.

[edgarpoe · 29 March 2000]

As a native New Yorker, and one who's very knowledgeable of this fine city's history, I was intrigued by this documentary series when I happened upon it on TV one lazy Saturday morning. There were familiar stories being told about the first settlers on the southern tip of Manhattan to the magnificent art deco era skyscrapers. But there was so much information, so many historical stories and significances that I had not known about until I watched this. It gives one (especially New Yorkers) a finer understanding of New York.

True, the series is rather long (FIVE TAPES NO LESS!) but it grasped me so much that I couldn't stop watching. It has the interesting stories accompanied by excellent narratives by anyone and everyone, and fine archival photos and film. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to know how this city came to be. I think it would be especially of interest for historians, architects, and urban environment scholars.

It ended too soon!

[Jakeroo · 9/10 · 2 September 2000]

This is a wonderful documentary. My only regret is that it stopped in 1931. So many things have happened since that I would like to have seen covered: Robert Moses' public works, effects of World War II and the Korean War, the explosion of air travel and the development of LaGuardia and Kennedy airports. There's been much history in the 70 years since 1931. A great piece of work, though.

Metropolis VS. The Cities we Live in

[rlazize · 8/10 · 12 December 2006]

Touching, well-researched and featuring great contributors. I couldn't recommend strongly enough the 6th and 7th parts, where an analysis is made of how the urbanistic principles of modernism (Le Corbusier) were fiercely implemented in NY, and from there almost worldwide. Men like Robert Moses took away from us the streets which used to be ours to live, rendering them to cars, monofunctional buildings and monofunctional "zones". The result, a couple of decades later, is that our cities are no longer organic entities where different social actors interact, for good and for worse, in each of its parts, but are socially divided and made into machines, each zone with its specific function, separated from each other by non-places designed for mobility. The saying that what matters is the journey itself took a cruel turn in this ideology: for the journey was made into an experiential nullity. Don't miss also, in the 7th part, activist Jane Jacobs, who fought back.

Love/Hate.

[wsered1 · 9/10 · 23 May 2004]

Not the documentary -- strictly love for the documentary. What it helped me to do is to understand my love/hate relationship with New York. I love what NYC stands for -- industry, capitalism, pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. I don't like what it has become -- arrogant, dirty, the home of a lot of movements I am diametrically opposed to.

This documentary didn't change my opinion -- disc 7 was especially informative -- but I certainly feel like I understand New York City, and the United States' urban development, much more than I did previously.

A strong 9/10.

Like Watching Thick Encyclopedia Volumes

[iquine · 8/10 · 16 April 2020]

(Flash Review)

If you want the definitive history of New York unified as a whole, from its founding to 9/11, this hits the mark. This was more than just a history of New York as it covers many historical American events that were spawned in New York from terrible to beneficial. George Washington helped escape defeat from the British, Alexander Hamilton basically started Wall Street and the banking industry, there were many poverty eras including the Great Depression, corrupt politicians and beneficial politicians that helped shaped the New York we know it today by constructing gargantuan visions such as Central Park, bridges, skyscrapers and roads. This was work to get through (about 17 hours) but it presented a wealth of information.

Amazing

[Ben-cherniavsky · 9/10 · 26 October 2023]

This is an outstanding documentary that covers the history of New York from the time the Dutch first set foot on Manhattan Island. So many great stories and rich history. Watching after recently spending a week in the city brought it to life even more. Only wish we had watched it before. My only criticism is that the last episode spends too much time on the "urban sprawl" and Robert Moses of the 1950s and 1960s and then rushes through the 70s and 80s in the last 15 minutes. There could have been so much more to learn about this era. The disco era. Studio 54. The clean up of the city. And it's amazing comeback. It was just a little bit of a let down at the very end. Otherwise an amazing film.

The 600-Minute-Long Story of New York

[igm · 7/10 · 15 July 2004]

There is much I like about this documentary film. The early history of New York as a Dutch trading post, its role in the War of Independence, and the importance of the Erie Canal are especially interesting because they are unfamiliar. The use of contemporary writings throughout immerse you in the period. The film is exhaustively illustrated with maps, paintings, and drawings for the early period, and with photos and film footage as technology--and the City--advances.

The lazy pace of the film irked me. A transcript would reveal that the film's content could easily be compressed. The languor of the narrative is the antithesis of the City's bustle. Much is repeated by a parade of historians recounting in turn each episode of New York's past. Many of the contemporary writings used in the film do not originate from the protagonists in New York's history, but merely from clerics or journalists.

Certainly, the film is worth seeing. I can't wait til my return to New York this fall to revisit the storied sites described in the film. I have no doubt the filmmakers left much interview footage on the cutting room floor. But their efforts would have been better rewarded with even more trimming of duplicated narration, glacially slow photo pans, and extended transitions.

7 of 10

Limited social study of NYC

[pismo10 · 3/10 · 7 March 2013]

If you are looking for another "Civil War" quality production, this documentary is not up to par. This is a very racist, preachy, agenda driven account of New York's history. It is very slow and dwells constantly on how awful the blacks were to the irish, how awful the irish were to the blacks, how awful the protestants were to the catholics, etc and on and on for endless hours. This is the theme of this documentary. It is much more a very biased social study of the history of NYC. Very negative, looking continually at the darkest sides of man in a very exaggerated, highly dramatic (today's Hollywood) manner. Virtually every line has a reference to race, religion, class. Always negative of course. Pathetic. Could not get through it all as it became completely predictable. Every story turned in to one on the evils of man and society. Nice pictures, lousy story. A long, boring, repetitive sermon. Absolutely terrible.

Sheds Light

[WUsaga212 · 10 June 2002]

As a native New Yorker, i really found this documentary on New York very interesting. Ken burns did very good work on the "Jazz" documentary, and I found this on PBS one Saturday. I was very interested on how New York would be portrayed, and it was portrayed kust like it is, a wonderful city with a long history. "New York" is not to be missed by any New Yorker or anyone interested in New York.

A

Great visuals--fuzzy history

[acton_bell01 · 5/10 · 29 August 2003]

While Ric Burns' documentary has been lauded for its comprehensive overview of NYC's history, it contains a number of unfortunate historical errors. Most of these are minor (saying, for instance, that Henry Hudson arrived in New York harbor in 1610 when it happened in 1609), but when they pile up, sentence upon sentence, episode after episode, it makes one wonder who fact-checked this series. More importantly, it makes the entire production suspect. If some of the facts are definitely wrong, how many others are wrong, too?