Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture

Interesting documentary! However this DVD is neither HD nor BluRay as advertised. It is "Full Frame"...

Louis Sullivan was a seminal figure in american architecture. It is unfortunately the ironic case that his existence is virtually eclipsed by the story of Frank Lloyd Wright. Watching this documentary, one has the rare sense Louis Sullivan was one of those precious individuals who practices his craft for the joy it brought him, in itself! The work is remarkable. The commentary on our american relationship to nature is telling. The movie is indispensable.

I bought this as a Christmas gift for my brother and boy, was I disappointed with the packaging. The picture looks so nice on the cover, but in reality the package is disappointing. The DVD package is made out of a cardstock cardboard with the picture you see in the description. It's a little disappointing to give this as a gift since with this packaging it seems "cheap". I paid $20 for this and for the price, they could have put it in a nicer, quality case. I wished it would have came with a regular "jewel-case" like most other DVD movies should. On another note, I have never seen this video and unfortunately I cannot comment on it. The 3-star rating is for the disappointingly cheap packaging!

Outstanding documentary. covers the rise and fall of Sullivan, his relationship with FLW, architecture in post-civil war America, and discusses and demonstrates his idea of creativity through architectural design and ornament. His efforts to create a distinctively American, democratic style are beautiful to behold. Like so many others, he fell out of favor in later life, but was actually ahead of his time. A genius in his own right and remarkable for what he taught FLW. I was sad when this ended. I have recommended the documentary to others and will watch it again.

Having a keen intetest in Frank Lloyd Wright, I wanted to know more about Louis Sullivan. This film was a terrific coverage of Sullivan and his work. It is quite clear that Wright's education and development as an architect was largely attained under Sullivan. The coverage of Chicago's Auditorium alone makes this a must see. I also well enjoyed the insights and views of the many drawings and works. Particulary great was the showing of the "jewel boxes" of Sullivans late years. His work very much shows the influences on Wright's prairie architecture. Overall, a very worthy documentary. A must see!

This little film is truly a wealth of intimate history, a window into the architectural imagination, with a sort of lingering sadness for what could have been. And yet, perhaps we only get small glimpses in life of what Sullivan so desperately sought to accomplish on an impossibly larger scale. Like the seed-germ so full of life and hope and possibilities, Sullivan was indeed an American triumph and flourished to the fullest extent allowed by the environment.

My copy came today and I was appalled that the cover was two pieces of cardboard and not a plastic case. For the price should have been better protected. Very cheap on your part.

A Truly Wonderful Documentary!!! I Thought That I Knew A Lot About Louis Sullivan, Now I Know Far More Than I Was Ever Expecting To Learn!!! Very Highly Recommended To Anyone Interested In American Architecture and Most Especially To Those Who Are In Awe Of Louis Sullivan's Amazing Organically Decorated Masterworks!!! My Only "Complaint" Would Be, That An Hour and A Half Just Wasn't Long Enough To Do Louis Sullivan and His Work, All The Justice That He Deserves, But It Came Very Close!!!