Tall: The American Skyscraper and Louis Sullivan (2006) - IMDb Jan 18, 2018. The latest of NYC documentarian Manfred Kirchheimer's films to be given its theatrical premiere several years late, Tall: The American. The term "skyscraper" was first applied to buildings of steel framed construction of at least 10 stories in the late 19th century, a result of public amazement at the tall buildings being built in major American cities like Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, and St. Louis..