City symphony

[2] As the art of cinema became more respected, filmmakers such as Walter Ruttman and Dziga Vertov gravitated towards works highlighting the beauty of cities, aiming to capture scenes of modern life from their narrative points of views.

[1] The term city "symphony" suggests a musically inclined editing pace and harmonious imagery to support the visual images.

Many city symphony filmmakers shot their films with an artistically inclined eye, aiming to show urban hubs with aestheticism and beauty rather than as a travel log.

[3] Cities across the world such as Manhattan, Berlin, and Milan were filmed in admiration with positive images of their hardworking people and impressive industrial feats.

[3] City symphony films made during the 1920s-1930s were before the era of sound cinema, however images were also supported by orchestral accompaniments.

A Bronx Morning by Jay Leyda , a 1931 short film documenting the Bronx