1977 was about the lowest period for New York. The city was broke, crime rates were high as was unemployment. Folks were also leaving the city in droves. In the midst of these hard times came the blackout. While there had been a relatively benign blackout back in 1965, this time it was different--chaos, looting and arson took over and mob rule reigned supreme. Countless small businesses were destroyed and the hellish life in New York only got worse as a result. This film chronicled what happened and it's a very depressing film to watch as it represents what's worse about mankind--and as a result it's not exactly fun to watch! Well made but super-depressing throughout.
5 Reviews
Liberal Bias ***
edwagreen16 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The documentary is extremely biased liberally as it faithfully attempts to point out the sociological implications of the 1977 power failure in New York City.
We are brought back to the terrible problems confronting the city in the 1970s, neighborhoods in decline, the near bankruptcy of 1975, strikes by public employees and white flight to the suburbs.
The documentary doesn't want to bring out that when will people take responsibility for their actions. Not everyone went on a rampage that night. Let's call it like it is. With the police not around in the worst neighborhoods when this event occurred, people saw this as an opportunity to gain financially from the situation.
I didn't like the way the female reporter was critical of Mayor Beame's response in this emergency. Who could have effectively handled this, Joyce Purnick?
Comparisons shouldn't be made between this blackout and the one 12 years before. The climate factor contributed to the tensions in '77, but the 65 travesty was throughout the entire northeast up to Canada.
We are brought back to the terrible problems confronting the city in the 1970s, neighborhoods in decline, the near bankruptcy of 1975, strikes by public employees and white flight to the suburbs.
The documentary doesn't want to bring out that when will people take responsibility for their actions. Not everyone went on a rampage that night. Let's call it like it is. With the police not around in the worst neighborhoods when this event occurred, people saw this as an opportunity to gain financially from the situation.
I didn't like the way the female reporter was critical of Mayor Beame's response in this emergency. Who could have effectively handled this, Joyce Purnick?
Comparisons shouldn't be made between this blackout and the one 12 years before. The climate factor contributed to the tensions in '77, but the 65 travesty was throughout the entire northeast up to Canada.
the blackout lasted 25 hours
moniquemoon77211 June 2020
The Night the City Lost Its Lights
Michael_Elliott17 July 2015
American Experience: Blackout (2015)
*** (out of 4)
The New York City blackout from 1977 is the subject of this episode in the long running documentary series. We get interviews with firemen, citizens and other people were look back at the night when the great city went black only to be lit up by fires being started by people who not only were committing arson but also looting.
For the most part this is another good entry in the series but at the same time there's no question that this it's not as great as many will be hoping for. What the film does do right are the interviews and especially the ones with the shop-owners who found their stores either completely looted or burned to the group. Also getting to hear from the fireman talking about the non-stop calls and how there were simply more fires than people able to fight them.
The film also goes into details about why things got so out of control that night. Most blaming the poor economy as being the reason people went out there to loot but the documentary never really explains that that's not a good reason to do such a thing.
*** (out of 4)
The New York City blackout from 1977 is the subject of this episode in the long running documentary series. We get interviews with firemen, citizens and other people were look back at the night when the great city went black only to be lit up by fires being started by people who not only were committing arson but also looting.
For the most part this is another good entry in the series but at the same time there's no question that this it's not as great as many will be hoping for. What the film does do right are the interviews and especially the ones with the shop-owners who found their stores either completely looted or burned to the group. Also getting to hear from the fireman talking about the non-stop calls and how there were simply more fires than people able to fight them.
The film also goes into details about why things got so out of control that night. Most blaming the poor economy as being the reason people went out there to loot but the documentary never really explains that that's not a good reason to do such a thing.
You Don't Know Crisis
kathleenmcbrair25 June 2019
Being without power is an annoyance and an inconvenience, but it's not a crisis unless you make it one. Unless you got knocked over the head, etc., you're not a victim. Nor are you a victim if you collect insurance. Apparently, what most of the country must deal with on an individual day-to-day basis must always be elevated in New York. Everywhere, every day people are losing loved ones to violence, but compensation is only warranted when there is sensationalism. Lose one family member and get millions; lose several and get zero. New York is the squeaky wheel that gets all the grease.
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