This documentary covers the breadth of the 1893 World's Fair so thoroughly, it is as overwhelming as the fair itself! I had *no idea* of how *enormous* the scope of this fair was! Mind-blowing even today.
Fascinating, to try and imagine what it must have been like for so many Victorians to see electric light for the first time, let alone at such a magical scale; To marvel at the revolutionary machinery of the Industrial Age; To takes rides in these novel electric-powered boats and trains and even a 22-story-high Ferris wheel. Impossible, to comprehend the volume of fine quality wares for sale such as porcelain, textiles, paintings, jewelry, clothing, and more and more and more -from dozens of countries- that were displayed in a single pavilion probably close to the size of a modern-day shopping mall. It was the largest building in the world at the time, and just one of the exhibits on a fair ground which would reportedly require a person to walk over 100 miles to see everything. I think it would take an attendee a month to take it all in. My mind started to swim near the end of this 2-hour presentation.
The highly educational script, narrated by Gene Wilder, is comprehensive and efficient in content, and covers the entire timeline of the fair from conception to destruction. As some other reviewers have commented, the modern-day video clips used in the introduction and occasionally inserted as supplemental visuals are *painfully amateur*, and incongruent with the production quality of the rest of the film, which is 95% photos and materials from the day. I have never seen so many photos of the fair, and never knew it had been visually captured so extensively.
I found myself thinking, "I want to go!!", and then being amazed that I found something from over 100 years ago as exciting as anything from today. More exciting, in fact; Something like this 1893 Chicago fair could not be done again today. The scope is impossible. Disney's Epcot is a 2-bit lemonade stand compared to this Expo... a gnat compared to a jumbo jet. It truly is a Wonder-of-the-World event.
If you're one to enjoy random educational programming as I do, this is a must-see.
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 10, 2017
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 5, 2021
A thought-provoking account of remarkable, but largely forgotten, events that may soon become better known.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 3, 2017
