Esotouric

Sealed DVD: $23.

Before "L.A. Confidential," there was "Shotgun Freeway"-- the groundbreaking 1996 documentary about Los Angeles coming to grips with its own history. Against a backdrop of never-before-seen archive footage on the L.A., Shotgun Freeway presents a diverse group of Angelenos who guide the film through their own past as well as the city's. A political and social history of Los Angeles, using old stills and news footage, contemporary footage, and commentary. Bert Corona is our guide for East Los Angeles, Buck Henry for Hollywood, David Hockney for the art scene, Elaine Young for Beverly Hills, Buddy Collette and Gene Norman for Central Avenue and music, Margaret Crawford and Joan Didion for the San Fernando Valley, James Ellroy for noir L.A., Frank Wilkenson on land use and L.A.'s poor, and, throughout, the observations of Mike Davis, L.A.'s pre-eminent social historian. "Shotgun Freeway" will show you a Los Angeles you never knew existed.

The critics say:
"Every newly arrived Angeleno should see this documentary, for it lives up to its billing as 'A history (of Los Angeles) written on celluloid and in between the lines of promotional brochures.' Clips from the promotional movies we slept through in junior high are cleverly intercut with interviews from notables like Buck Henry, Joan Didion, James Ellroy, David Hockney and 'City of Quartz' writer Mike Davis. Directors Neville and Pallenberg keep things entertaining by employing a loose structure that resembles the configuration of L.A. itself: You don't know where you're going, but you think you know how to get there. Somehow it all fits." - Paul Kolsby, L.A. Reader, Oct. 26, 1995

"A breezy, informative look at Los Angeles history and culture, with interviews of famous Angelenos who both love the city and decry its many changes over the decades, Neville and Pallenberg's documentary is divided into such subjects as Crime, the Beach, Hollywood and the Valley... the film's angle and talkative, analytical interviewees stitch together a thought-provoking portrait of a teeming metropolis unlike any other... Wonderful archival footage and promotional films are included to support the wide-ranging locations captured. One is left wanting much more, which is undoubtedly the filmmakers' intention." - David Hunter, Hollywood Reporter, Oct. 30, 1995

"Found footage of The City That Was - complete with orange groves - and contemporary soundbites (featuring sages such as Joan Didion and James Ellroy) give a very precise, entertaining history of Los Angeles. Filmmakers Neville and Pallenberg do an elegant job of resurrecting (if only in the imagination) the place that has been lost." - F.X. Feeney, L.A. Weekly, Oct. 26, 1995

Directed by Morgan Neville & Harry Pallenberg

BONUS MATERIALS include Director's Commentary, The Lost Tim Leary Interview, and three rare promotional films: Hollywood 1931, LA Police Tour, The Free Way.

Running time: 90 minutes
Format: DVD

The link below says "buy tickets," but you'll actually be buying a DVD. Price below is for US customers. Overseas? Please contact us for cost.