Hearst Castle: Building The Dream (1996)

 

Hearst Castle: Building The Dream - 1996

Coming up next is 1996's documentary-short "Hearst Castle: Building The Dream".  It's a look at the legendary residence of William Randolph Hearst in San Simeon, California.  We see his origins and how he came to appreciate art, culture, the California landscape, and how he found a way to incorporate all of them together.

This was shown on the big screen at Hearst Castle as part of their tour program.

This is the man, himself: William Randolph Hearst.  His family's silver mines launched an empire than became famous for magazines, newspapers, film studios, and of course, the castle/ranch itself.

The story begins with a plane that takes some guests of Mr. Hearst's to the castle's private airstrip.  On the way, we are treated to some beautiful views of California's Central Coast.

We are told of Hearst's early childhood period, and how he loved to camp in the area, taking particular delight in the landscape.

As a young boy, Hearst's mother took him on a grand tour of Europe, where he learned to appreciate art and architecture.

In 1919, he was able to begin building on the land that his family owned.  He partnered with architect Julia Morgan to begin work on what would be Hearst Castle, though in his day, it was simply called "The Ranch".

What they built together is nothing short of magnificent, evoking scenes from the Mediterranean and other places in Europe.

And that's it for Hearst Castle: Building The Dream.  The Central Coast and the castle are my favorite places to be.  If you're thinking it's got that typical California vibe, you couldn't be more wrong.  It is an altogether different feel.  This film makes me want to go there again.

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