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Category:    Home > Reviews > Drama > Biopic > Biography > Immigration > Childhood > Prejudice > Elia Kazan’s America, America (1962/Warner DVD)

Elia Kazan’s America, America (1962/Warner DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C+     Film: B-

 

 

The groundbreaking director Eliz Kazan was controversial on and off screen, bringing a new realism to filmmaking and one of his most interesting projects was a drama that was also a biography of his immigrant Greek uncle who goes from living in Turkey to coming to the United States in America, America, his 1962 opus that uses dramatic actors an voiceover to tell the story.  Kazan said this was his favorite film and it is one of a kind.

 

It is as much about him and the U.S. as it is about the people he portrays the trials, joys and tribulations of as they arrive in the late 19th Century.  It is a long film at 168 minutes, so you have to be in the mood to try it out, but if you can get into it early, it is a very rewarding work and the black and white shooting actually makes it seem more authentic than not.  A favorite of Martin Scorsese, it remains one of the best films that will ever be made about the immigrant experience and has been on many wanted lists for DVD release for over a decade.  Now it is here and recommended.  Just have the energy.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 black & white image is from a very clean print and though there are some soft spots, the playback is as good as the Video Black from DVD is going to deliver and the Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono also sounds pretty good for its age, helped by the voiceover being recorded in studio.  Extras include a feature length audio commentary track by Historian Foster Hirsch.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


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