Product Description
Narrated by Gene Wilder, "EXPO - Magic of the White City" brings the Chicago World s Fair to life! Experience the world of 1893 through a cinematic visit to Chicago's Columbian Exposition. Many of the world's greatest achievements in science, technology and culture were unveiled there. Fairgoers enjoyed the Midway Plaisance where a one-mile boulevard of fun offered camel riding, belly dancing, street fighting and beer drinking. Nearly 28 million visited the Fair. Dubbed the "White City," it inspired future innovators such as Henry Ford and Frank Lloyd Wright, debuted the Ferris Wheel and Cracker Jack®, and, in many ways, marked the beginning of the 20th century. Against the backdrop of 1893 s troubles with workers' rights, prejudice, discrimination and corruption, the World s Columbian Exposition cast a brief ray of hope for the future of humanity. Filmed in high definition, "EXPO - Magic of the White City" immerses viewers in one of the world s biggest extravaganzas and one of the most unforgettable events in American history. There will never be another event like it...or will there? Special Features: - Feature Length Commentary Track with World s Fair Historian David Cope - "Making the Fair" - "Art of the Fair" - "Storyboards of the Fair" - "Pictures of the Fair" - Commentary tracks on Special Features by Director Mark Bussler and Writer Brian Connelly - Deleted scenes

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 3.5 based on 17 reviews)

A Flawed Masterpiece

As a long-time fan of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, I was eagerly looking forward to seeing this film. In spite of a well-researched script, an abundance of historical photos and visuals of the Fair, and Gene Wilder's excellent narration, I was disappointed by it. Other reviewers have mentioned the "cheesy" and distracting modern-day footage of the dancing girl, zoo animals, fish in an aquarium, beer being poured into a glass, etc. I'd like to add some poor choices in the music heard on the soundtrack. Rather than limiting themselves to music that was actually played at the Fair or at least that was in existence in 1893, the producers chose to include music from a much later period. Two examples are "Dill Pickles Rag" from 1906, and "Swanee" from 1919. On the other hand, they failed to include the one piece of music that is closely associated with the Chicago World's Fair Midway, the famous "hootchy-cootchy" dance (aka "Dance of the Snake Charmer"), the music for which appears in both Stanley Applebaum's "The Chicago World's Fair of 1893," and Erik Larson's "The Devil in the White City." Lapses such as these ruined what might otherwise have been a production in the same class as one of the Ken Burns films.

October 06, 2008

Great. I now watch this every mid July in honor

It's difficult for me to pinpoint exactly what I like about this documentary. Mostly, I'd say it was the mood, the way it took me back to a time I did not know, but now have a sense of what it might have been like.

I first watched/ listened to this while packing boxes for a move. I really only intended it to be background noise while I worked, but instead I found myself coming back to it, slowing my packing progress.

I now own the DVD so I can watch it at my leisure. I have since spent the time researching many of the interesting things mentioned. It must have been an amazing sight. Even for us jaded folks of the 21st century.
Oddly enough, when the DVD ends, I feel just a little bit how folks might have felt when the Fair ended: a sense of loss; a sadness that it had to end.

Please note: My review is a based upon the needed escapism I experienced while watching. I didn't feel the need to be critical with this documentary.

July 20, 2008

GREAT VIDEO

this video gives great information and has great photos with in the movie. it is a little long and doesnt focus much information on the midway fare grounds. overall this is a great documentary.
February 08, 2008

What could have been

The Columbian Exposition of 1893 was certainly the progenitor of fairs that followed in the United States. Attempting to re-create that comes along "Expo", designed to give the viewer a comprehensive look at that fair. To a degree, it succeeds.

"Expo" outlines the history of the fair in detail and Gene Wilder's narrative is sufficient, if not overly compelling. The DVD takes way too much time to tell its story, evidenced by the cheesy updates in artists' renderings and suggestion. (If I saw one more belly dancer appear in this offering, I was ready to hit the "stop" button on my remote) Given the fact that this was a great historic event... and the documentary does many things well....why resort to cheap new age stuff when the history, itself, would suffice? Ken Burns knew how to do it in his "Civil War" series....these guys did not.

If the viewer can remove the lesser, innocuous bits of "Expo", it's worth a look. But I wonder how much better this story could have been told, with the right temperature and persuasion. Clearly, Chicago in 1893 had a great more to be written about and viewed upon and I hope the next rendition of this fair can be told within a better reference.
November 15, 2007

Rip Off!

"EXPO" is extremely disappointing. If authentic materials were so lacking, the feature should have been shorter--certainly the foolish modern footage of fish, belly-dancing, and beer-drinking should have been omitted. After reading "Devil in the White City," I thought this DVD would show the "city" Erik Larson writes about so vividly; but "EXPO--Magic of the White City" is a dull and anemic commentary.
October 29, 2007

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