Klute in New York: A Background for Suspense

I had the pleasure of watching "Klute" on dvd, it is got to be one of the best films of Alan Pacula, and Jane Fonda's career.

The mystery and suspense of the film is something that Hollywood has rarely capture on screen so well.

This documentary filmed in 1971 details the making of the film including interviews with the actors, the location in New York (way before the Sept 11 attacks) and story.

The documentary is rare, you won't see anywhere but the DVD.

I watched the DVD for the film and loved it. Check it out.

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.