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Despite Ken SmithÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs semi-disparaging remarks about this film, there is much more to this film than the admittedly gaudy ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂClock of NationsÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ sequences that bookend the film. Indeed, if one views this ephemeral film in its historical context, it becomes readily apparent that this is much more than a sales film. ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂRochester: City of QualityÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ is a document of urban renewal subsequent to the population shift from the cities to the suburbs, and its anticipated effects.As weÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂre shown imagery of Rochester at its greenest and best, the narrator repeatedly (with varying degrees of subtlety) tells us that Rochester has come to terms with its past, and is modernizing / adapting itself for the future. To discover what Rochester has come to terms with, one need only look to the sequence beginning at 6:17 in part one. As we tour through the city, the narrator expounds on the purpose of a city and of the surrounding economic area (ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂa place to make a profit, as pleasantly as possibleÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ), and the financial facts of life when it comes to the prosperity of an area. Moving on to pastoral scenes of families alongside waterways, the narrator continues on to tell us how the Erie Canal was once a main travel artery, and with changing times became, in essence, a recreational facility. The underlying message (and parallel) here is clear: while Rochester may have had a certain industrial beginning, it too, like the Erie Canal, must repurpose itself as times change.The reason why soon becomes clear: because of the automobile, and the highways for them that serve (in spirit) as successors to Erie Canal. The underlying idea here is that just as Rochester was founded on one transportation artery, Rochester must reshape itself to suit the new transportation arteries, and the cars they serve. In terms of the downtown area, the stakes are made clear (at 8:11): ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂTimes change ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ and you either change your city to fit them, or theyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂll change your city, often unpleasantly. More often, unprofitably.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Indeed, as the narrator continues on to tell us, over imagery ostensibly from the opening ceremony for a highway, Rochester has ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂmade its peace with the Automobile. Is it practical to do otherwise? ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 20th century America is geared to the automobile, and thus is Rochester geared.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Rochester is then described as ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ in an obvious comparison to other cities ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ one in which traffic flows quickly, safely, and freely, and in which thereÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs plenty of convenient parking for now and the future. In a society increasingly based around the car, the appeal of an easy drive to Rochester for commuters (and for the employers of commuters) is plain to see.The film then moves on to further demonstrate its own viability and attractiveness, again differentiating itself from other cities while giving subtle acknowledgment to the problems it, like other cities has. Forty seconds into part two, the narrator makes it clear ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ over shots of several businesses ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ that Rochester is a city with ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂquality people, quality industries, skilled industries and skilled people, clean industries, clean people, stable industries, stable people.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ With that description we are led to believe that it is a city with a strong economic base (no acknowledgement of businesses closing down or moving to the suburbs) and with a good workforce (well trained, balanced, and employed). Yet, workforce retraining is presented to us under the guise of a preemptive response to ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂtechnological lag.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Indeed, the film would lead us to believe Rochester is a city without problems. However, by the filmÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs own subtle admission, Rochester is a city trying to solve its economic downturn. The effects of deindustrialization and decentralization were being felt, and smoothed over.Indeed, one needs only look at how the film deals with suburbanization ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ the mass exodus from the cities that was made possible by the automobile ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ to see this more clearly. ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂRochester didnÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt fight the suburbs or the shopping centers rising to meet suburban needs. It simply capitalized on the things people liked about shopping centers: wide varieties of merchandise, the fun of meeting people, and above all in this day and age, a place to park.ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ As such, Rochester (like other cities) responded by refiguring downtown as a place for business (governmental and otherwise), entertainment, and culture. Thus the mention of the various facilities and the events that take place there, as well as the need for parking.Indeed, reshaping downtown to accommodate and attract suburbanites ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ namely their automobiles ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ was probably the true motivation Rochester had in reshaping its central core. The sequence beginning at 11:50, in which the narrator lays out RochesterÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs plan to ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂrip out and rearrange streets, and sections of that central core to its hearts content,ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ is a truly harrowing one ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ it truly screams out for inclusion in a program critical of urban renewal. Indeed, in seeing the streets and buildings the planners intend to destroy, one seriously wonders why they would destroy what, for all intents and purposes, looked to be a healthy, thriving area.The answer seems to primarily lie in the need for the city ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ particularly the downtown area ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ to attract people to the area so that it could economically sustain itself. Like the Market Center in which the ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂClock of NationsÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ resided, it would seem that Rochester (like other cities) didnÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt just attempt to attract suburbanites with culture and entertainment, but also with newer, downtown versions of malls, and even apartments. Yet, given the illustrations weÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂre shown of the future Genesee Crossroads, an arid set of monolithic buildings intended to encompass both downtown living and working space, itÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs hard to see what the attraction would be for the average Joe ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ or family for that matter ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ in comparison to the suburbs. Indeed, if an attraction like the ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂClock of NationsÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ is felt necessary to bring people to the downtown area from the suburbs (Why else would it have been created?), it seems to this viewer that RochesterÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs downtown was certainly in something of a precarious economic position. Unfortunately, further commentary on the long term results for Rochester is beyond the scope of this review.Overall, while ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂRochester: City of QualityÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ may not be the most entertaining film in the Prelinger collection, it certainly has historical significance, least of all for the residents of Rochester, who can see how their city and surrounding countryside looked nearly four decades ago. If you have an interest in urban renewal, I wholeheartedly recommend you check out ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂThe Dynamic American City,ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ which is also part of the Prelinger collection.For ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂfound footageÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ videomakers: The cinematography on this film is average overall ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ itÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs competently done, but not spectacular. In addition to the sequences noted in my review, there are several worthwhile shots in the film: aerial shots of the city and farmland, shots (from in and outside of a convertible) driving on the highway and in the city, shots of children (farm, petting zoo, Market Center), aerial stills of the inner and outer highway loops, inner city construction (and demolition), a family in their Sunday best leaving their home, suburban shopping plaza, and a shot of men examining a model of what appears to be a nuclear power plant. (The last is rather predictable, as this was a film sponsored by Rochester Gas and Electric Corp.) Additionally, if you are interested in sampling any of the narration, I regret to inform you that there is a music track running under the majority (if not the entirety) of the film.