Searchers for a Special City

This short is a promo for the 1966 MGM film "Mister Buddwing", and it is occasionally shown on TCM.

This is a rather unusual old film promo and it apparently adopts the tone of the film it promotes. The whole short is in dark and moody tones, with tension, excitement and uncertainty, and appropriate jazz music playing throughout.

The narrator begins by discussing New York City and it's special nature (thus, the titular "special city"). Then we learn that the "searchers" are the director, producer, screenwriter, and cinematographer, who are scouting locations in the city. Director Delbert Mann discusses the reasons for using NYC as the film's setting instead of studio backlots. The plot of the film is briefly described without revealing much, and actress and NY native Suzanne Pleshette briefly discusses the film and city. The short wraps up with video clips from the film showing James Garner wandering the streets of NYC in some kind of daze, arguing with a woman, and generally struggling with things. And there are foreboding shots of things which border on being film spoilers, and all this is set to jazz music with no dialogue.

I'd have to say this promo is still quite effective since watching it made me want to watch a film I had never heard of.