Klute in New York: A Background for Suspense

This was also on the widescreen VHS edition as well, along with the original theatrical trailer. Proof? I got my first DVD player only a couple of months ago and I've been familiar with it for years.

Anyhow, I really like this entry in the cycle of making-of shorts, produced by Professional Films, that accompanied Warner Bros. feature films of the late '60s/early '70s (others I've seen: Bullitt, Deliverance, All The President's Men, Dog Day Afternoon). It really captures the grimy, grungy, rusty atmosphere of New York of the period--even better than Klute itself--and almost makes one long for it. Maybe that's just me, a naive hick Midwesterner with a romanticized view of a Real Big City, but this short sure made me feel bittersweet-nostalgic. While long on atmosphere, the short--being short--is a bit skimpy on the actual movie goings-on, although we do get to hear voice-over from Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, director Alan Pakula, and DP Gordon Willis. I suppose this is the closest thing they had to a DVD-style running commentary in those days, and as I haven't seen the DVD yet I do hope that Pakula managed to supply a new commentary track before he passed away. In lieu of a running commentary, this is an okay substitute, and a marvelous Instamatic snapshot of the time and place besides.