Search - American Experience: New York: The Center of the World on DVD

American Experience: New York: The Center of the World

Kirk J. Babcock | Waukesha, WI USA | 10/11/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a complete history of the WTC from its birth to its demise. It might give you some perspective on why it's taking so long to build the new Freedom Tower. The highlight is the high-wire crossing between the two towers by Philippe Petite in 1974. He's either an alien or a Jedi Knight. The footage of people jumping from the towers is chilling, including the horrified reaction of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. This film should be shown to all high school kids. It's well-narrated by former MASH star David Ogden Stiers without his signature Major Charles Winchester Bostonian accent. FIVE STARS without a doubt."

Outstanding Historical Documentary

D. Kelly | 02/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""New York: The Center of the World" is probably one of the finest documentaries about the construction of the twin towers of the World Trade Center. In the three hour documentary, Ric Burns successfully told the tale of New York's two mightiest landmarks through interviews with journalists, architectural critics, politicians, construction engineers, and Port Authority officials. This film surpasses the History Channel's "World Trade Center--The Rise And Fall Of An American Icon" What I did however find discouraging in this fine film was the very negative "Never To Be Seen Again" attitude about the twin towers from some of the interviewees regarding the rebuilding of the complex. Many worldwide including myself have felt that the towers should be rebuilt and the only one in that film who has reflected that sentiment was Phillip Petit who walked the high wire between the towers in 1974.
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Definitive dvd on the birth and death of WTC.

Payen | Los Angeles, CA | 10/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own pretty much every dvd there is to own on the creation of the World Trade Center. This dvd delves further into the conception and construction than any other. Lots and lots of interviews with many important figures, and tons of archival footage and photographs. This documentary goes much deeper into the politics of it all than many other documentarys on this subject. What it does not do, however, is go into the engineering of this building, which lead to the reasons for the collapse. (There are other dvds which go into great detail on this subject.) I think, now that I have seen this final chapter in Ric Burns documentary, I might just have to buy the entire dvd set."