Both filmed six years before my birth, “Invisible City” and “Wonderful New York” are two more examples of those odd travel films I’ve posted here before. Both capturing the New York City of 1961, these films paint a leisurely portrait of Manhattan that, while topographically recognizable, owe precious little to today’s iteration.
First up is “Invisible City.” Hosted by the inimitable Eddie Albert (you might remember him as Zsa Zsa Gabor’s husband from “Green Acres” - CORRECTION: EVA GABOR, not Zsa Zsa), scored with some loopy jazz and presented in stately black & white, this film zones in on various locals to portray a wide spectrum of the city’s different walks of life. Many of the sentiments expressed by Albert’s lulling, poetic voiceover (“New York is a great machine….powerful and intrictate”) reflect some pretty antiquated sensibilities, but that shouldn’t be surprising for a document from 62 years ago. Those looking for things to get angry about might single out the section lionizing the statue of Teddy Roosevelt in front of the Museum of Natural History or Albert’s cheeky description of the female bargain-hunters at Macy’s (“they’re splendid to watch”).
There are also the requisite visits to Washington Square Park, Wall Street and Times Square, but there’s a surprise visit of Katz’s on East Houston Street which I didn’t see coming.
Next up is “Wonderful New York,” produced by Pan Am, which is a bit more formal and travelogue-y, as should probably be expected. Jettisoning the black & white for “technirama and technicolor,” this film also flits all about Manhattan, but with more of an accent on getting around and less about “local color.” That said, you do get some nice scenes of the Village and the Central Park Children’s Zoo.
Enjoy the trip…
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