Customer Reviews

Hearst Castle - Building the Dream (Digitally Remastered From IMAX Format) [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The film talks mostly about Hearst than Hearst Castle. It is a very short film (only 38 minutes) and less than 8 minutes were used to show the Castle. If you expect to tour the castle, you will be greatly disapponted.

The misleading title of this DVD borders on outright fraud. The majority of this whopping 38-minute film is a re-enactment of Hearst's childhood told in a style appropriate for kindergartners. After 20 minutes, we adults awaken from our slumber to see actors playing Hearst and Julia Morgan pantomiming discussion about the castle while the insipid voice-over drones on. The final few minutes of this turkey re-enact a weekend at San Simeon in the most irritating way possible. Cameras sweep briskly through a few rooms of the monumental castle without pause or significant comment, as if this brief part of the movie were just a trivial afterthought.

A disaster, an embarrassment, and a major disappointment. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

If you are looking for a detailed tour of the Hearst Castle, this DVD will be slightly disappointed. What you might enjoy is the story leading up to the building of the castle, although far too much time is spent on the details and far too little time is spent on the glorious castle.

While there are quite a few black and white photos, the only areas this DVD really focuses on is the swimming pool, dining hall, one or two main rooms and one bathroom. Yes, this is very sad for anyone who was dreaming of a tour of San Simeon, as I was.

The "aerial footage" is similar to seeing a beautiful woman 5 miles down a beach. Look, they just don't get close enough for you to fully appreciate the castle.

Now, I must say, the trailers for the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Hawaii and "Whales" looked absolutely stunning. I will definitely take a look at all those movies.

The one to three star votes are unfortunately very accurate. I'll give them a three stars for effort, but I'd like to give them one star for the disappointment I felt at not really seeing much of the castle.

Look, if you are just interested in the events leading up to the building of the castle, this might be a good choice. If you are looking for a movie to watch while you drink a cup of tea, this movie will at least keep you company.

Personally, I'd rather be swimming in that amazing pool. Now there is something to write home about and someone does. The swimming pool is perhaps the most interesting part of this movie. Don't blink. You might miss it.

~The Rebecca Review

Recently, my wife and I took a short vacation break and visited the central California coast staying in San Simeon. Unfortunately, the road to the north was closed due to a wildfire near Big Sur. Cambria was open and raking in the tourist dollars. The highlight of the trip was our visit to the Hearst Castle where we took tour #1 (deemed best for first-time visitors).

I had heard of the Hearst Castle, of course, but I was still overwhelmed by the scale and magnitude of the place. The architecture, art and landscaping all overpowered my senses. No matter what you might have read or heard or seen, you just have to visit this place to experience the awesome magnitude. Our basic tour was only the beginning. Four other tours were available for those who can't get enough or those who want to come back for repeat visits. The State Park management, by the way, was absolutely first rate, so a return visit is a pleasant thought.

As a part of the tour, visitors could view a movie (this DVD) in a
large-screen theater and the DVD was for sale as a remembrance. The movie was quite interesting and very well done, as I would expect of things associated with the National Geographic Society. It outlined something of the history of the Hearst family and especially of William Randolf Hearst's boyhood experiences of visiting Europe with his mother. The movie also chronicled Hearst's collaboration with architect/artist/civil engineer Julia Morgan as they attempted to construct something to rival the magnificent architectural wonders of Europe placed in a central California setting. Old photographic and movie clippings, including shots of celebrity visitors, were added to the presentation, as were some magnificent aerial shots of the Castle and the surrounding California countryside.

The film was short (about 45 minutes), but was exceptionally well done and very informative. If you're interested in the Hearst Castle it would be an excellent place to start whether you visit the castle of not. We were introduced to the wonder of the castle first, and then viewed the film. It added greatly to the tour experience. However, We could have viewed the film first and then gone on the tour. It would work equally well either way. The DVD is an excellent documentary and would be of interest in itself.

Gary Peterson

This is an enjoyable film, but you must take it in context. The film was made to enhance your visit at Hearst Castle by showing viewers what motivated Hearst to build his ranch house.

Some of the other reviewers are disappointed the film doesn't show as much of the castle's interior. Well, that's what the tours are for! The film shows you what the tours can't, it shows the making of the castle! Hence the title, "Building the Dream". I'm sure they'd have called it "Tour of the Interior" if that's what the movie was about.

So, see the movie, and enjoy the tours!

Took the tour of Hearst Castle a few years ago and just loved it. This DVD is a way to revisit the Castle and indulge in its history !!

Bought the DVD after actually visiting the Hearst Castle. The DVD was a nice complement for me...definite reminder of my amazing trip. Such an interesting history regarding the home and Mr. Hearst himself!

Great... if you don't want to many facts.

Lots of soaring photos and pretty sunsets but not lots of facts or historical info.

To bad as I was looking for some substance.

This is arguably the worst film I have ever seen. Not from a technical standpoint - the filmmakers made sure to cram as many impressive IMAX shots and expensive looking set pieces in as possible - but rather as an overstuffed and ultimately unnecessary counterpart to one of man's greatest monuments to excess. I saw this at the Hearst Theater after taking a tour of the mansion (which is amazing and totally worth doing) and it actually took away from that experience (as a side note, the Hearst Theater is a state-of-the-art facility that has been screening "Hearst Castle - Building the Dream" 14 times a day since 1996. A ticket to the film is included in the $25 admission price which goes to show you how hard up the Hearst Corp. is to make their money back on this flick). As standalone entertainment it fails because it offers no insight whatsoever into Hearst himself or how he made his fortune. It also skimps on what much of the castle actually looks like. What you do learn is that an ultra-privileged 10-year old boy took a trip to Europe with his mother and was inspired by much of the architecture. That's pretty much it. This is reinforced by countless swooping crane shots of Big Ben and various cathedrals, all featuring actors and extras in period dress. It's as if the producers blew all their money shooting on location and then decided to use all their footage - shot after shot of bell towers and ornate statues - because it was so expensive to produce, regardless that none of it really tells you anything. It's a sanctimonious puff piece that plays like a glossy Christian After-School Special. A never-ending melodramatic swelling score plays throughout, and I wanted to puncture my eardrums by the 10-minute mark. The narrator has the smug self-confidence of a old timer whittling away on an old wooden porch. It makes sense that this film was made in the foolhardy mid-90's.

Make no mistake about it, Hearst Castle was not a philanthropic venture by a man who wanted to "share his vision with the world." It was a vain, excessive, private project by one of the world's richest men that was meant to be enjoyed by his peers, the political and entertainment elite, and no one else.

"Heart Castle - Building the Dream" belongs on a bill with "Mac and Me" as an emotionally hollow double feature.

It should of been longer, but it is a nicely made film. It does not cover much of the inside of Hearst Castle.