Search - American Experience: Grand Central on DVD

The best of American Experience

Anthony Blasini | YONKERS, NY United States | 06/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Awesome work for a documentary, sparing too many talking heads and rich in visuals of the period, this turns out to be one of the best American Experience films I've seen. What a story! Dramatic and thought provoking.If you love New York City history or the history of late 19th century technology and finance, this is for you. Wonderful effects with 2 dimensional images that are rendered to seem 3D. Great narrative and leaves you thinking long after. I can never pass by or through GCT without thinking about this film."

A grand documentary for Grand Central

M. Schadt | SF, CA | 01/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had this on my movie subscription queue and it was a long wait getting it. BOY! it was well worth the wait. This is an exceptional documentary visually and in content. It begins with Vanderbilt's original terminus in the -then- hinterlands of Manhattan. Details the tragic accident which led to the ban on steam locomotives in Manhattan, the mandate placed on Vanderbilt to change to electric trains, the fierce competition he faced from the Pennsylvania Railroad and their sparkling new train station. All the while it switches back to the present with beautiful shots of the restored terminal, time-lapse clips of the vast amount of foot traffic it serves and great bird-eye views of the grand avenue and skyscrapers that were made possible by submerging the electric rail system. Interesting comments show that times might not have changed as much as we think and public pressure CAN effect improvements. Although Vanderbilt had resources to complete this new terminal without public funding. I love GCT and I loved this DVD. I am shopping for my own copy now, after watching the rental one 3 times in a row. I only wish I lived in New York City so I could visit this wonderful hub more often."

Has a few holes

Bradley F. Smith | Miami Beach, FL | 05/18/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As far as it goes, this documentary tells the dramatic story of the construction of the current Grand Central Station. It leaves out, however, the equally dramatic story of its restoration after decades of grime collection and neglect. Still, it's strong on the origins and early years of this monument, though it also leaves out any reference to the egregious destruction of next door Penn Station, a building at least as gorgeous as Grand Central."