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Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America DVD

$24.99
Item #: WB3462
Frederick Law Olmsted was among the first to regard landscape architecture as a profession and a fine art  -  in fact, with Calvert Vaux he virtually created that profession. To Olmsted, a park was both a work of art and a necessity for urban life. Olmsted's efforts to preserve nature created an "environmental ethic" decades before the environmental movement became ... More
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Frederick Law Olmsted was among the first to regard landscape architecture as a profession and a fine art  -  in fact, with Calvert Vaux he virtually created that profession. To Olmsted, a park was both a work of art and a necessity for urban life. Olmsted's efforts to preserve nature created an "environmental ethic" decades before the environmental movement became a force in American politics.

Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America

Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America is a biography of the man who made public parks an essential part of American life.

Olmsted made enormous contributions to the American landscape and is known as the father of American landscape architecture. He was co-designer of Central Park, head of the first Yosemite commission, leader of the campaign to protect Niagara Falls, designer of the U.S. Capitol Grounds, site planner for the Great White City of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, planner of Boston's ""Emerald Necklace"" of green space and of park systems in many other cities. Olmsted's pioneering design of the public parks and parkway systems in Buffalo, N.Y. is the oldest coordinated system in America and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

To Olmsted, a park was both a work of art and a necessity for urban life. Olmsted's efforts to preserve nature created an "environmental ethic" decades before the environmental movement became a force in American politics. With gorgeous cinematography, creative animation, and compelling commentary Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America presents the biography of a man whose parks and preservation are an essential part of American life.

Special Bonus feature includes…
- Olmsted's Enduring Legacy (30 min. video)

Producer: WNED-TV
Production Year: 2014
Copyright Year: 2014
Rating: TV-G
Director: Diane Garey, Lawrence Hott
Narrator: Stockard Channing
Talent: Campbell Scott
Writers: Ken Chowder
Number of Discs: 1
Length: 60 minutes
Number of Episodes:1
Subtitled: Y
Subtitle Languages: English (SDH)
DVI: N
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Widescreen

7 Reviews
R
Raven
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
07/17/20
Eye opening film
Review by Raven on 07/17/20 review stating Eye opening film
This is a stunningly beautiful film. A well crafted, nicely written film that tells the story of an amazing, and amazingly complex man. A man who not only left his mark across the American landscape, but who also played a unique role in social and cultural history of America during the second half of the 19th Century. The Olmsted Bros architecture firm, carrying on for decades after the death of Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., continued to leave a huge imprint across American cities, suburbs, educational and health institutions, and regional, state and national parks. What a legacy and in its 60 minutes, this film captures it all.
D
Denny M.
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
07/17/20
GREAT PRODUCTION!
Review by Denny M. on 07/17/20 review stating GREAT PRODUCTION!
I CANNOT IMAGINE ANYTHING BETTER; THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOUR VERY TRULY FRAK D. MAYER, JR. LINDEN 60@COMCAST.NET
A
Avocet7
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
07/17/20
A Must
Review by Avocet7 on 07/17/20 review stating A Must
Anyone whos enjoyed an urban park, from NY Citys Central Park to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, would be more appreciative of the great foresight it took to create these gifts once delighted by ... Designing America.
P
Pat
Anonymous User
2.0 star rating
07/17/20
Typical American insularity
Review by Pat on 07/17/20 review stating Typical American insularity
While Mr. Olmsted was obviously a very gifted landscape architect, I take great issue with the claim that he was among the first to regard landscape architecture as a profession and a fine art . . . he virtually created that profession. Capability Brown lived a century earlier in the U.K. and transformed the British landscape through designs every bit as remarkable as Olmsteds. Brown was responsible for the creation of about 170 vast parks, many of which endure today. Even Brown was building on the practices of predecessors such as Charles Bridgeman and William Kent. Furthermore, there are enormous planned gardens in other parts of Europe and in Asia that are much older and equally as impressive as anything either Brown or Olmsted created. The world as we know it did not begin with the U.S. Revolution!
S
Steven G.
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
07/17/20
no surprise
Review by Steven G. on 07/17/20 review stating no surprise
pbs bio: great subject, excellent treatment
S
Sancy
Anonymous User
4.0 star rating
07/17/20
Educational, enlightening
Review by Sancy on 07/17/20 review stating Educational, enlightening
Enjoyed the presentation on PBS, gave DVD as gift to a brand new citizen originally from Bhutan, who happens to be a very good landscaper/gardener. Thought it would be a nice way for him to learn more about his new country in a manner connected to his work. No word from him yet. It was very good in an historical context, said a lot about the trials of getting huge projects done, anywhere, getting the ordinary person to see ones vision. how much Olmsted actually accomplished that long ago. A tremendous amount; who said one person cant make a difference! Had hoped for more panoramic greenscapes, probably because my giftee is a garden person, but all in all it was educational, good story about a very talented man.
R
Rhd
Anonymous User
3.0 star rating
07/17/20
Why not Blu-Ray?
Review by Rhd on 07/17/20 review stating Why not Blu-Ray?
Wonderful film. But if it has gorgeous cinematography, creative animation, and compelling commentary (from the description) and it was filmed in HD, why is the film not available on Blu-Ray to make it pop on the home TV screen? Im so disappointed that it is only on DVD.

Highlighted Customer Reviews


S
Steven G. reviewed Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America DVD
5 star rating
no surprise
Review by Steven G. review stating no surprise
pbs bio: great subject, excellent treatment
A
Avocet7 reviewed Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America DVD
5 star rating
A Must
Review by Avocet7 review stating A Must
Anyone whos enjoyed an urban park, from NY Citys Central Park to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, would be more appreciative of the great foresight it took to create these gifts once delighted by ... Designing America.
D
Denny M. reviewed Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America DVD
5 star rating
GREAT PRODUCTION!
Review by Denny M. review stating GREAT PRODUCTION!
I CANNOT IMAGINE ANYTHING BETTER; THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOUR VERY TRULY FRAK D. MAYER, JR. LINDEN 60@COMCAST.NET

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