Educational Media Reviews Online

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West has a 52 minute biographical segment narrated by Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer, Director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Archives, and author of numerous books on Frank Lloyd Wright. Using historical photographs, Pfeiffer gives us an in-depth look into his life and philosophy. While the related DVD, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home & Studio, provides basic biographical information, the major focus is on Wright’s residential architectural innovation. This DVD focuses more on Frank Lloyd Wright’s life and how it affected his work. It includes more information on his work in Japan and the development of the Taliesin Fellowship. Taken together both DVDs provide a comprehensive look at the life and works of Frank Lloyd Wright.

There are 8 chapters starting with an introduction and exploring his early life, his entry into Chicago, writing his autobiography, his final decade, Taliesin West and conclusions about his life and impact.

Also included is a 30 minute segment on the building of Taliesin West, again narrated by Pfeiffer, with many historical photos documenting the building of Taliesin West, as well as three slideshows with extensive daylight and dusk photo galleries of Taliesin West. There is a DVD-R with interactive architectural plans of Taliesin West. They are easy to navigate and the excellent photos (historical and current) are both stills and panoramic views using click and drag to change position.