Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman

Although he may be recognized only in architectural circles, Julius Shulman (1910-2009) is noteworthy for his photographs chronicling the rise of American modernist architecture from the 1940s through the late 1960s. More specifically, Shulman elegantly documented architectural advancements in Los Angeles and Palm Springs during the mid-20th century, bringing them to the attention of the mainstream public. Dustin Hoffman provides star-power narration here, as director Eric Bricker follows the 90-something Shulman late in life, while weaving in a succinct historical primer of the photographer's working relationship with heavyweights such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, John Lautner, and Frank Gehry, among others. The film's own visuals are often inventive, combining straight video footage with clever Terry Gilliam–like animation and Shulman's own immaculate stills of 1950s “pod”–style houses and other futurist edifices that appeared on the covers of prominent architecture magazines. A fascinating portrait of a man so dedicated to the modernist cause that he was driven to retirement by the scourge of postmodernism in the late '60s—only to experience a career resurrection in the late '90s—Visual Acoustics celebrates a movement that reflected one of the most optimistic and forward-looking periods in American architectural and artistic history. DVD extras include audio commentary with Bricker, deleted scenes, and bonus footage. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (M. Sandlin)