The Third Coast

Directed by Susan and Alan Raymond, this 1979 documentary seeks to capture the evolving character of Houston. The film pays special attention to the city’s rapid expansion—investigating not only what attracts so many people to the Bayou City but also its ongoing drawbacks, from a struggling mass transit system to alarming statistics about the use of deadly force by Houston police officers. Of particular note is footage of the premiere of French fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld’s Chloé collection at Neiman Marcus and an open casting call for Urban Cowboy (1980).