MOVIE MOVIES

Once in a while, Hollywood makes a good film while looking at itself in the mirror. I call these “movie movies” and here are the best of a limited, but most enjoyable, category.
At the very top of the list is Hearts of Darkness (1991), the splendid documentary about Francis Coppola’s making of Apocalypse Now. Footage shot on location by Coppola’s wife is skillfully mixed with actual film footage and outakes, and interviews with all the principals except Brando (who, of course, passed). A film fan’s bonanza!
With Martin Landau (Oscar) as Bela Lugosi and Johnny Depp as Ed Wood (1994) we are completely entertained in this affectionate comedy about probably the worst film maker of all time. Ed’s never-say-die enthusiasm makes us laugh with him more than at him. His cheesy special effects are truly hilarious. And if you ever have a chance to see Plan 9 From Outer Space or Glen Or Glenda, don’t miss it!
Tim Robbins is the essential Hollywood Machiavelli in Robert Altman’s The Player (1992) a very dark comedy starring Mr. Robbins as a Hollywood sleazeball who can and does go so far as murder to save his questionable career. Not as over the top as you’d think, this satire draws blood more than once.
The Stunt Man (1980) is another satire diving straight into the dark festering heart of Hollywood. Peter O’Toole is the charismatic director and Steve Railsback the title character in this mystery within a mystery story of a Hollywood shoot from Hell.
The legendary Francois Truffaut’s Day For Night (1973) is simply as good as it
gets in telling the inside story of the making of a movie. Truffaut also stars as the 
director and shows us lots of interesting tricks of the trade. But the best part is the story of the cast and crew becoming this little community for the period of the shoot. Truffaut at the top of his game, and that is very high indeed.
The Magic Box (1951) is the charming biopic of William Friese-Greene, beautifully played by Robert Donat. He was a developer of moving pictures and though others took advantage of him, he had his moments. The scene I still like a lot from this one is about Friese-Greene taking picures in Hyde Park, in which action is recorded. He excitedly runs out and grabs a policeman (Sir Lawrence Olivier, credited here as Larry !) to show him the results. The bobby is dumbfounded and maybe doesn’t quite get what he is seeing. 
And finally, for true film buffs, there is Orson Welles’ It’s All True (1941 or so). After Welles’ classics, Citizen Kane and The Magnificent Ambersons, he journeyed to Brazil and made three short films. RKO hated them so much that most of them were thrown into the ocean. This documentary is the story of the making of the films, the discovery of the little bit left of them, and the effect on Welles’ career.
All of the movies in this column are available on DVD. All are suitable for ages 12 and up.