American Experience - Coney Island
by Ric Burns
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Actor: Andrei Codrescu, Judd Hirsch, Nathan Lane, Philip Bosco, Vincent GardeniaDirector: Ric Burns
Brand: Paramount
Producer: Bob M. McCausland
Producer: Buddy Squires
Producer: Chas Norton
Producer: Eileen Mulvey
Producer: Harlan Reiniger
Producer: Judy Crichton
Writer: Richard Snow
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 58 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-03-21
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: PBS
DVD Reviews of American Experience - Coney Island
DVD Review: Coney Island On DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
This is something I remember first watching when I was 11 or 12 years old. It was something my mom wanted me to see because she experienced herself the joys of the (final) years of Steeplechase Park at Coney Island;the human roulette wheel,the blow hole theater,the Nathan's hot dogs;she did it all and all of that is here only more. After watching this I have to admit to myself Luna Park,although it's heyday was at the turn of the century and it burned down 40 years before I was born,looked pretty cool. This documentary shows how a famous beach inspired forward thinking showmen and arcitects to build three amusment parks on Coney Island in the early 1900's;how they provided whimsey,abandon and in some cases cultural stimulation to Americans.At the time Americans were witnessing the end of the Victorian age and the beginning of the modern world-Coney Island blended the two by inventing it's own world that mixed both the reason and morality with invention and industriousness;the perfect mix of old and new. This story becomes bittersweet at the end when Coney Island goes into decline-reason being first one of it's three assmusment parks burning down,the passing and downfall of it's innovators and the fact that the rest of New York (and the country) started catching up fast to the diversions Coney Island offered after WW1. One thing I should say about this is this movie is at least 15 minutes longer then the one PBS originally aired. One whole segment taken entirely from the televised version revolves around how after WW1 Coney Islands two remaining amusment parks began to rely mainly on circus type sideshows,not rides or spectacles to stay afloat. This dreamy documentary is mainly fancinating except,as stated by another review it does feature a chilling film made at Coney Island around 1907 or something of an old elephant named Topsy being electrocuted.Some might find this offensive and not want young kids to see this.And while it is highly unpleasant it illustrates that even the most fun place in the world has it's darker side. But there is a happy ending to this story not shown on this DVD;several years after this was made Austraillia opened up it's own Luna Park;not only does it have a lot of the same features as the original but it remains highly popular. Which proves to me with no doubt that if fire hadn't gutted it the original Luna Park,in the proper hands would've surely made a comeback.A compelling DVD for fans of Coney Island history,amusement parks and even some sociologists.
Description of American Experience - Coney Island
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 03/21/2006Bestsellers in DVD
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