Daybreak Express

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Set to a classic Duke Ellington recording of "Daybreak Expresa" this is a five-minute short on the soon-to-be-demolished Third Avenue elevated train line in Manhattan, New York City.Set to a classic Duke Ellington recording of "Daybreak Expresa" this is a five-minute short on the soon-to-be-demolished Third Avenue elevated train line in Manhattan, New York City.Set to a classic Duke Ellington recording of "Daybreak Expresa" this is a five-minute short on the soon-to-be-demolished Third Avenue elevated train line in Manhattan, New York City.

Director
- D.A. Pennebaker
Writer
- D.A. Pennebaker

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

1.4K

YOUR RATING

Director
- D.A. Pennebaker
Writer
- D.A. Pennebaker

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos5

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An Optical Poem

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The Third Avenue El, featured in this short - officially the IRT Third Avenue Line - was originally built starting in 1878 and was completed in 1920. Demolition began in 1950 and was completed in 1973. Manhattan had three other elevated rail lines running over 2nd, 6th and 9th Avenues. All were closed 1938-42 and demolished.

Connections
Edited into Cinema16: American Short Films (2006)

Soundtracks
Daybreak Experss
Performed and written by Duke Ellington

User reviews8

Review

Featured review

8/10

Third Ave. El' Swan Song

The first of prolific filmmaker DA Pennebaker's docs recording some of the final runs of the doomed 3rd Ave Elevated. Brief but tightly edited with the sleeping city awaking to some golden silhouettes as denizens begin the slow trod into the day ahead, the energy slowly beginning to percolate and the El picks up speed and passengers.

An excellent short, both as homage and display of the promising style that would carry Pennnebaker throughout his career as one of the foremost documentarians of the 60s and 70s and beyond. Wisely employing Duke Ellington's 1933 title song he breathes energy and life into some superbly composed imagery to make this trip a fun ride all the way.