Hearst Castle - Building the Dream (Large Format)
by Bruce Neibaur
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Actor: Karen Teliha, Patricia Rodriguez, Ralph Chelli, Ricky Mabe, Vanesa TomasinoDirector: Bruce Neibaur
Cinematographer: Matthew Williams
Writer: Bruce Neibaur
Editor: Stephen L. Johnson
Producer: Richard W. James
Producer: Scott Swofford
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 40 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-06-29
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Sling Shot
DVD Reviews of Hearst Castle - Building the Dream (Large Format)
DVD Review: A Brief History of the Inspiration, Ingenuity and Megalomania That Made Hearst Castle
Summary: 4 Stars
If you can't make the trek to San Simeon in the middle of the California coastline, you may find this 2006 DVD the next best thing to being there. Running 40 minutes, this 1996 IMAX documentary was produced specifically for the National Geographic Theater at the Hearst Castle Visitors Center with the intent of providing tourists the history and cultural context for publishing magnate William Randolph Heart's palatial weekend home. Directed by Bruce Neibaur, a specialist in IMAX documentaries (Mysteries of Egypt), the feature is a condensed dramatization of the genesis and construction of the undeniably magnificent estate that rests in splendor five miles up the hills. You will learn that Hearst Castle was built on what started as a 40,000-acre ranch that Hearst's father, George Hearst, originally purchased in 1865 after he struck it rich in silver. During periodic camping trips in the area during his childhood, young William became fond of this site. His mother Phoebe, a former schoolteacher, also took him on holiday to various European castles, museums and other important attractions, all of which made a vivid impression on him.
When Hearst inherited the ranch in 1919 upon his mother's death, the property had grown to an astounding 250,000 acres, and construction on the estate began that same year. It continued unabated through 1947, when Hearst stopped living there due to ill health. San Francisco architect Julia Morgan was the pivotal figure who designed most of the buildings and kept Hearst in check for his excesses (for example, building him a private zoo) and his impulsiveness in tearing down structures and having them rebuilt at a whim. Dominated by John Gavigan's reassuring narration, unknown actors play the key roles, including Hearst as well as a fictional starlet who was invited to one of Hearst's typically elaborate weekends when he would invite a plethora of Hollywood stars and world-famous dignitaries to have fun. Although that sounds like a lot of ground for this film to cover, the abbreviated length of the movie feels just right for covering the history of the subject. Production values are first-rate, and the DVD captures the IMAX experience to a surprising degree.
Description of Hearst Castle - Building the Dream (Large Format)
The advantage of using IMAX technology in a film of this nature is that the viewer can more easily appreciate the awe-inspiring architectural treasures that influenced the making of San Simeon, William Randolph Hearst's "castle." This 40-minute film also includes stunning aerial footage of the castle itself and the California coastline it overlooks.It isn't, however, for the hardcore architecture aficionado or Citizen Kane fan, on the hunt for inside dope on the real Xanadu (Charles Foster Kane's baroque fortress in Orson Welles's classic). The events from Hearst's life that inspired the design of San Simeon, such as a trip to Europe with his mother, are re-created with actors. The costumes look authentic and dialogue is kept to a minimum, but these are fairly static tableaux. Photographs and silent film footage document the building of the castle and the guests (Clarke Gable, Charlie Chaplin, and such) fortunate enough to enjoy its pleasures, such as swimming, horseback riding, and feasts in La Grande Casa. However, recordings or readings from books and letters might have helped to bring this material to life.
This is a broad look at an architectural wonder that lies somewhere between beauty and kitsch. Although the film isn't billed as a biography of "The Chief," a more personal approach might have made for a more compelling feature, but probably wouldn't have utilized IMAX technology so well. Special features include Web links and trailers for four other IMAX features. --Kathleen Fennessy
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