Interior New York Subway, 14th Street to 42nd Street (1905)
In the National Film Registry
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5m 11s
Witness the early days of this revolutionary transit system, a glimpse into 1905 New York life.
Filmed by G.W. Bitzer just seven months after the New York City subway's inauguration, Interior New York Subway, 14th Street to 42nd Street (1905) takes viewers on a novel journey beneath Manhattan's bustling streets.
Technically innovative, the film likely involved three trains: the one we see, the one carrying the camera, and a third on a parallel track equipped with special lights to illuminate the dark tunnels. This innovative approach to filming foreshadows the technical ingenuity that would become a hallmark of experimental film.
The subject matter itself is experimental. Instead of a fictional narrative, the film offers a documentary-like glimpse into a new and wondrous technology that was rapidly transforming urban life. This focus on the everyday and the novel aligns with the experimental movement's exploration of new ways of portraying the world.
Though brief, Interior New York Subway, 14th Street to 42nd Street offers a fascinating glimpse into the birth of a modern marvel and the birth of a cinematic movement.
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