On 20 October 1973, the Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. From conception to completion, it had taken more than 15 years and over $100 million. A remarkable feat of engineering skill and innovation, this striking and imaginative building captured the world's interest and is considered by many to be among the great architectural achievements of the 20th century. In the years since its completion, the Sydney Opera House has become one of the most identifiable of Australia's icons - ranking with the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Uluru, the koala and kangaroo. The construction of this architectural masterpiece was recorded by the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit from its inception. The resulting documentary has been called The Fifth Facade - a reference to the roof which is the building's most distinctive feature. The fifth facade documents the history of the Opera House, from the selection of the site at Bennelong Point to the official opening. The commentary of Jorn Utzon, the Danish architect who won the worldwide competition for the original building design, offers insights into his vision for a construction appropriate to the to the site it occupied and the functions it was to serve. He details the unique structural and aesthetic problems that had to be solved to make his vision a reality. A Film Australia production. 2011 National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Producer: Anthony Buckley Director: Donald Crombie Writer: Keith Gow, Peter Weir, Donald Crombie DOP/Cinematographer: Bruce Hillyard Narrator/Presenter: Sam Wanamaker, Jorn Utzon.