Lee Leaves

 

 (kungfufandom.com)

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO, SAI FUNG?-1999-Short docu-drama about Bruce Lee’s last days in Hong Kong before leaving for his temporary stay in the US. It stars Stephen Au who also produced, wrote and directed it and has become a big item in Asia. One story says Lee's estate stopped it from being release. It's also been announced that Au was working on a re-tooled DVD release.

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The Un-Lost Clown

 

 (imdb)

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT-2024-This documentary looks into the stories surrounding the making of THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED with a long interview (shown in segments) with director Jerry Lewis. Besides concentrating on the movie it's part biography focusing on Martin & Lewis, his other movies, Jerry Lewis theaters, etc. He talks a lot and others praise the film (like Martin Scorsese who hasn't even seen it). Some dismiss it (like Harry Shearer who had seen it). Later Lewis condemns it. It puts to rest some main rumors. The film wasn't locked away in some vault in Berlin. It was not lost or even unfinished. Lewis had a complete unedited working copy in his own vault. Much of the movie is shown (including the ending) and there's even production films. You can see Anton Diffring as the camp captain. Many people clamber for its release but see this first before you take a side.

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Merry Christmas (a little late)

 

 (imdb)

THE DEATH AND PASSION OF CHRIST-1903-Considered the first feature length film, this is the life of Jesus shown in several episodes, from his birth to his Ascension. It's a pretty great film considering it's age. Made in France with tinted scenes and interesting sfx. The acting is a little over the top but that's not uncommon for a silent film. The original director Ferdinand Zecca had a falling out with producer Charles Pathe' so Lucien Nonguet finished it.

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It Can't Happen Here

 

 (alarmy)

EAT THAT QUESTION: FRANK ZAPPA IN HIS OWN WORDS-2016-If you like the music of Frank Zappa (I do) then you should like this bio/documentary about him. Many interviews are shown (US and Europe) along with concert footage (some with the original Mothers Of Invention and various incarnations), rehearsals, scenes from 200 Motels and Baby Snakes, his very early TV appearance on “The Steve Allen Show”. Even his appearance as a mystery guest on "What's My Line?". Director Thorsten Shutte includes a lot of rare footage too.

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Legend

 

 (themoviedb.org)

BRUCE LEE THE LEGEND-1984-This documentary has rare scenes of Lee as a child actor (some with his comedic actor dad), his now famous black & white interview, scenes of him as Kato and TV's "Longstreet". Raymond Chow, head of Golden Harvest, explains how Lee convinced him to make "THE BIG BOSS (FIST OF FURY in the US) and FISTS OF FURY (THE CHINESE CONNECTION in the US). Both were huge hits. Then writing, directing and starring in THE WAY OF THE DRAGON. Good behind the scenes footage from ENTER THE DRAGON and GAME OF DEATH. 

There's speculation on his death and interviews with Nora Miao (his WAY OF THE DRAGON co-star), Betty Ting Pei (long thought to be his mistress) and director Robert Clouse. This Golden Harvest tribute is good but hardly a definitive bio. Leonard Ho, normally a producer, directed.

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Zap!

 

 (themoviedb)

ZAPPA-2020-This documentary opens with Frank Zappa addressing a audience in Czechoslovakia right after The Velvet Revolution at what would be his last recorded concert. Then it's mostly FZ pontificating on his life, music, the record business, the government, Edgard Varese', etc. What really makes this interesting is that all the interviews are found footage. Nothing was recorded by FZ (who died in 1993) for this bio. There is also some amazing footage of the original Mothers, a young Captain Beefheart, photo shoots and concert footage. Alice Cooper, Ruth Underwood, Bunk Gardner, The GTOs, Ian Underwood, Bruce Bickford, Steve Vai, Ray White, Gail Zappa (who died in 2015), Mike Keneally and others are interviewed in new footage. 

Nice effort by director Alex Winter (BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE). He's directed a lot of movies apparently but the only other one I've seen is FREAKED (1993).

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"If You Love These Blues...."

 

 (chicago tribune)

THE MIKE BLOOMFIELD STORY-2021-Excellent documentary/biography of the (now) neglected Blues guitarist. In his time playing with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Electric Flag, he was viewed as America's first guitar hero but constant touring, drugs, insomnia and the need to stay out of the spotlight took its toll. Part one is directed by Alex Wernquest and Nick Lerman. Part two is by David Dann (who wrote the whole thing).

Michael Bloomfield & Al Kooper: Albert's Shuffle:

https://youtu.be/wvA6W87lj8I?si=qapM7Ovm5uApyNDK

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"If Ya Got Ears, Ya Gotta Listen"

 

 (youtube)

THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS CAPTAIN BEEFHEART-1997-This was a late period documentary about the great Captain Beefheart (aka Don Van Vilet) who died in December of 2010. It gives some interesting insights and info about his early career then jumps to “Trout Mask Replica” and glosses over later work. "Clear Spot" isn't even mentioned. There are some comments from Frank Zappa (obviously already sick; he died in 1993) and former Mother and perennial complainer Jimmy Carl Black (who died in 2008) chimes in as well. Matt Groehing, Ry Cooder, John French and Eric Drew Feldman offer their opinions. British DJ John Peel (who died 2004) narrates.

 It's a nice little documentary but hardly a comprehensive one. Director Elaine Shepherd later made a 30-year anniversary special on Monty Python's Flying Circus.

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Arliss and Karloff

 

 (tmdb)

THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD-1934-Historical drama about the rise of Mayer Rothschild (George Arliss) from his beginnings in a Jewish ghetto in Frankfort to his rise as Europe's most powerful banker. After his death, the story focuses mainly on son Nathan (also Arliss). He lends millions to the English government to help Wellington (C. Aubrey Smith) defeat Napoleon. Then one of Wellington's men wants to marry Rothschild's daughter (Loretta Young). This could be complicated since he's not Jewish. Later Rothchild runs into opposition in the form of antisemitism headed by Baron Ledrantz (Boris Karloff). When Napoleon escapes and mounts a new offensive, Rothschild backs England with everything he's got, nearing financial ruin but Wellington is victorious and England is back on top. Some prints feature the final scene in color. 

Solid historical drama with a few inaccuracies (but what Hollywood story doesn't have them?), ably directed by Alfred Werker, who later made THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (1939) with Rathbone and Bruce, A HAUNTING WE WILL GO (1942) with Laurel and Hardy, SHOCK (1946) with Vincent Price and HE WALKED BY NIGHT (1948) with Richard Basehart.

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Real Cannibal

 

 

 (cnn)

EXCUSE ME FOR LIVING-1993-This is a horrific documentary/biography about Issei Sagawa (who died in November 2022), a Japanese citizen who murdered and cannibalized a young Dutch woman in France. Though arrested and imprisoned, a technical glitch in the justice system freed him after a mere two years in an asylum. He's a pathetic guy who probably needed help for many years, but no one realized it and he committed a pretty heinous crime and became a minor celebrity who wrote several books and gave interviews. 

He expounds on his lifelong obsession to kill and eat someone and his fascination with actress Jean Seberg. His later life wasn't so pleasant. His “celebrity status” in Japan is blown out of proportion as most of the country were fairly outraged by his infamy.

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Tiny Tim!

 

 (youtube)

STREET OF DREAMS-1988-This grainy slapped together bio/documentary features Tiny Tim attempting to break the non-stop singing record at Luna Park, a famous amusement park in Australia. It throws in all sorts of Tiny Tim clips: myriad interviews, his marriage on "The Tonight Show", talking to strippers in a hotel room, dressing up like Mickey Mouse, even an interview with his aged mother who shows off childhood photos. Actor Ross Martin occasionally appears to narrate. 

Tim pontificates on the Bible, God, life, sex, etc. It's a cacophony of Tiny Tim, a literal overload, which turns very serious toward the end when it reports on the fire that took 7 lives and closed the amusement park down. 

Director Martin Sharp, who had a keen interest in Luna Park as well as Tiny Tim, was also an artist who drew the cover of Cream's albums “Disraeli Gears” and “Wheels of Fire” as well as writing the lyrics to two of their songs, “Tales of Brave Ulysses” and “Anyone for Tennis?”. There is a separate feature that focuses mainly on the marathon concert itself.

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The Big Thug

 

 (imdb)

AL CAPONE-1959-Al Capone (Rod Steiger) rises from small time bodyguard thug to the most powerful man in the crime ridden town of Chicago. He eliminates an older boss (Joe DeSantis) to help his friend Johnny (Nehemiah Persoff) become the new boss but he has trouble with fellow thug Bugs Moran (Murvyn Vye). He marries the widow (Fay Spain) of a man he killed. He's helped by a corrupt news reporter (Martin Balsam) and hounded by the only seemingly honest cop (James Gregory, who also narrates) in the city. Steiger, who occasionally talks while eating an apple, is OK in the role eventually killing anyone who stands in his way, being convicted of tax evasion and getting beaten up in jail. Sandy Kenyon and Raymond Bailey also have roles. 

Director Richard Wilson went on to make THREE IN AN ATTIC and SKULLDUGGERY but for many years was Orson Welles' chief assistant, working on many of his film projects including IT'S ALL TRUE.

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Mr. James

 

 (amazon.com)

THE PLEASANT TERROR: THE LIFE AND GHOSTS OF M.R. JAMES-1995-Very English documentary-biography with re-enactments about the master ghost story writer M.R. James trying to find a link as to why an Eton scholar and devout Christian wrote such eerie stories basically as a side line. On screen narrator Bob Wallis concludes he could have had a supernatural encounter when he was a boy. Authors like Ruth Rendell offer their opinions and Christopher Lee appears at the beginning. Shown in three parts. Directed by Clive Dunn.

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Bonus: John Mayall sings about another Mr. James, Elmore to be exact:

https://youtu.be/-7NnLL0v3nk

Puroresu

 

 (wkipedia)

THE GREAT SASUKE-2015-Nice documentary about the Japanese pro-wrestler, The Great Sasuke, covering his ups and downs in the ring, his short-lived political career, family life and helping the victims of the tsunami in Northern Japan. He's an honest hard-working guy with a never say die attitude who's devoted to his sport. Fellow wrestler Taka Michinoku also appears. Directed by Mikiko Sasaki.

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Alice Guy-Blache

 

 (IMDB)

BE NATURAL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF ALICE GUY-BLACHE-2018-Very interesting if a little long, documentary about Alice Guy-Blache probably the first woman director and the first person to make a feature film. Forgotten and ignored for decades she was a pioneer making something like 1000 short films with varied subjects (THE PIT & PENDULUM; HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME; THE LIFE OF CHRIST). Much of her output was later credited to her husband. The do it all writer/director/producer/editor Pamela B. Green does an awesome job of tracking down filmed interviews, written material and relatives. Check it out!

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The Devil You Know...

 

SANANTIS: THE DEVIL'S MASS-1970-This is a documentary about Anton LeVay and his "Church of Satan". He's a slick snake oil salesman like any other phony religious leader. He talks a lot of mumbo jumbo when his whole point seems to be total sexual freedom. Satan's just a bystander. In interviews his "followers" seem high. Other people voice their opposition. The Satanic rituals shown (including nudity, boa constrictor and a whipping) seem staged for the camera. Although interviews with neighbors and priests try to make it seem like they are stupid, it's plain everyone can see through him. It ends with his wife saying "I understand he was tremendously busy during Halloween". It's the only movie director Ray Laurent who once worked with Ray Dennis Steckler, made.

                                           Some of LeVay's books...

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Valentino

VALENTINO-1951-Young Flamingo dancer Rudolph Valentino (Anthony Dexter in a good performance) leaves his dance troupe and winds up sleeping on a park bench in NYC. He becomes a dishwasher but when the cook calls him a grease ball they have a fight and he and his friend Luigi (Joseph Calleia) are fired. He becomes a dancing gigolo and falls for actress Joan Carlisle (Eleanor Parker) . Her director Bill King (Richard Carlson) suggests he dance in her new movie. Rudy (referred to many times by critics as “Vaselino”) goes to Hollywood but can't get a job until he crashes the party of a big producer (Otto Kruger). He puts the moves on Joan but she rejects him and marries Bill. Things get touchy when he and Joan are cast as the leads in “The Sheik”. Later they declare their love for each other but Rudy has stomach pains, gets into a fight and marries his girlfriend (Patricia Medina) to save Joan's reputation. He goes back to NYC and dies. The story ends 25 years after his death where a mysterious woman in black visits his grave every year. Phyllis Coates has a cameo. 

This isn't a bad bio but director Lewis Allen seemed to have a problem with the time period. Although it's suppose to be the early '20's, everyone is dressed more like the '50's when this was made.

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Do You Know Jack?

CAMERAMAN: THE LIFE AND WORK OF JACK CARDIFF-2010-Interesting biography of the great cinematographer (BLACK NARCISSIST) who was still working into his early '90's! He died in 2009. It includes interviews with Martin Scorsese, Kirk Douglas and others and also focuses on his first film as a director (SONS AND LOVERS) but glosses over his other directorial efforts (No mention of his last effort THE MUTATIONS). The best parts are the interviews with Cardiff himself from different stages of his career. Director Craig McCall recently completed a documentary on Leslie Howard.

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Hitch Tac Toe

 

 

 

HITCHCOCK-2012-The genesis of the movie PYSCHO and it's controversial road from book to screen is basically the plot of this film bio of the great director (Anthony Hopkins never out of his suit and tie). Despite the success of his previous film (the classic NORTH BY NORTHWEST) no studio would touch the new project. It also practically says that wife Alma (Helen Mirren) salvaged the whole picture after Hitchcock had filmed it. The director comes across as a bit of a loony, insulting everyone and imaging his wife is having an affair but Hopkins portrayal is admirable and mostly the film is a positive look at his career to that point. However the film really insults Anthony Perkins (played by James D'Arcy) and his contribution. Instead of showing him and his portrayal as the focal point of PYSCHO, his character is brushed off as being nothing but a homo mama's boy who understood nothing that was going on. But of course Janet Leigh's role was played by film darling Scarlett Johansson so the director Sacha Gervasi was probably so enamored of her he focused everything on her character (not that that Janet Leigh's role wasn't crucial to the original story; it was). I wonder if the future Sir Alfred really did talk to Ed Gein (Michael Wincott)?

Despite it's faults I like HITCHCOCK better than most Hollywood bios I've seen recently. It could be because although Hopkins and Mirren are fine Academy Award winner actors they are also both hacks who would do anything for money and there for having them both in the same film made me wary, yet it wasn't as bad I thought it could have been.
 
It also features Danny Huston as screenwriter Whitfield Cook, Ralph Macchio as Joseph Stefano and Jessica Biel as Vera Miles. It's based on a book by Stephen Rebello with a screenplay by John McLaughlin (THE BLACK SWAN). Director Gervasi's claim to fame before this was his screenplay for the Tom Hanks flop THE TERMINAL.

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Raven Mad?

 

 

THE LOVES OF EDGAR ALLAN POE-1942-Eddie Poe (John Sheppard; later known as Sheppard Strudwick) is taken in by The Allens after his mother dies. Mrs. Allen (Mary Howard) is a nice caring woman who loves him but Mr. Allan (Frank Conroy) is a jerk who thinks Edgar is wasting his time writing poems. At school he gambles, gets into debt and drinks a lot. He gets some encouragement from Thomas Jefferson (Gilbert Emery) but Mr. Allen hits the roof when he sees all of Eddie's debts. He also loses his love Elmira (Virginia Gilmore) to another man (but later it is reveal to be a deception devised by his old man). He joins the cavalry and later West Point (and gets thrown out) and goes to live with his aunt (Jane Darwell) in Baltimore where he meets his cousin Virginia (top billed Linda Darnell). He becomes a writer and wins a short story contest. He and Virginia get married and he lands a job as a magazine editor in Richmond but complications arrive when he meets Elmira at a party. He goes on a bender and gets fired for being drunk. The trio go to Philadelphia where he becomes a success and meets Charles Dickens. He works toward a getting a copyright law for writers, gets into an argument with his boss (Morris Ankrum), gets drunk and goes to NYC. Virginia gets sick. He tries hard to sell his new poem “The Raven” to the public and even gives a great reading of it to some printers but fails to sell it. Virginia dies and he goes back to Baltimore to die in poverty. A narrator explains that although it was not recognized in his own life time now “The gods laugh and Poe laughs with them”. Harry Morgan plays his friend Ebenezer.

This is a straight forward fairly accurate portrait of the now legendary poet/writer which provides a lot of sympathy for the main character. Director Harry Lachman had an interesting career although he quit making movies in 1942 the year LOVES was released (he also made DR. RENAULT'S SECRET the same year which featured Sheppard). He made many in the Charlie Chan series and OUR RELATIONS with Laurel & Hardy. It was written and produced by Bryan Foy (THE UNDYING MONSTER, PT 109).

 

 

 

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