The Sinister Saga of Making "The Stunt Man" (2000)

A Film Nobody Wanted--A Documentary About Bringing The Classic Film "The Stunt Man" To Fruition

Obviously, most viewers seriously looking at this documentary probably already have an affection for the film "The Stunt Man,"--an audacious film, made by Richard Rush. The process of getting "The Stunt Man" to the screen was one that took almost a decade. Never losing sight of his vision for the film, he was unwilling to compromise his intent. His story is an inspiration--equal parts horrifying, hysterical, and educational. This sparse documentary is, in essence, an interview with Rush. Staged almost like a cheesy industrial film, time is spent just watching Rush speak to the camera--almost like a lecture one might catch at a local film university. But Rush is so engaging and likable, and his courage and fortitude should be an example to modern filmmakers the world over. It's great to see him embrace the success of "The Stunt Man," albeit 25 years after it was released.

There are just some movies in your life that really speak to you--that connect to you on some emotional or intellectual level in a very special way. "The Stunt Man" is such a film for me. Released in 1980, this ode to movie making is a challenging, intelligent, incisive and fun film that very few people saw upon its initial release. After a 10 year preproduction struggle by Rush, a tumultuous shoot, and no support from a studio that didn't care about the film--it was essentially dumped with no fanfare. But with amazing clarity and foresight, the film was surprisingly awarded with three major Academy Award nomination--Best Actor for Peter O'Toole, Best Director for Rush, and Best Screenplay for Rush and Lawrence Marcus. In the years that have followed, the film has attained a cult status and a legion of faithful fans (myself among them). In fact, I have seen this film probably 15 times and it was the first (really!) VHS tape I ever bought--now that's dating me!

So if you love "The Stunt Man," I propose that you will also find this documentary a fascinating contribution--and a real bite of movie history. This documentary is also included in the Limited Edition "The Stunt Man," likewise offered by Anchor Bay. I'd certainly recommend this option as opposed to buying the film and documentary separately (if it is still available). Treat yourself to a great film and a terrific documentary. KGHarris, 02/07. February 21, 2007

Informative, but sadly cheesy and annoying

Richard Rush's "The Stunt Man" is one of the most original, intelligent, and exhilarating films ever made. It also has one of the most fascinating back-stories in movie history, with a tumultuous production and distribution history that rivals "Titanic" and "Citizen Kane".

It's too bad that "The Sinister Saga of Making 'The Stunt Man'" is one of the most agonizingly cheesy documentaries I've ever seen. It resembles a childrens' science television show, with an overuse of annoying and disgustingly "cute" visual gimmicks. It looks like the work of a recent graduate of a community college videography class, with too much time and equipment on their hands. Sadly, the documentary was directed by Rush himself.

So is this documentary worth seeing? Absolutely, if only because the back-story is so compelling. However, Rush could have saved a lot of time and money merely filming himself delivering the same information as a straight lecture. The approach used here is nearly unbearable. January 9, 2002

True Hollywood story--in epic detail!

I saw this documentary at the 20th anniversary screening of "The Stunt Man" at LA's Egyptian Theatre last year. It is a low-budget DV affair consisting of the director, Richard Rush, describing the endless process of getting the film made and released and the various individuals who tried to prevent him along the way. It is shot as an homage to the visually inventive style of "The Stunt Man", full of camera tricks and transitions. Being a huge fan of the film, I was fascinated; those who are less interested in this sort of story may find it overlong and overblown.

To me, "The Stunt Man" is one of the best (if not the best) films made about the film industry; I've seen it many many times and am delighted that a DVD is finally being released. This documentary is a fine companion piece and true to the hall of mirrors theme, it's a film about making a film about making a film...

"If God could do the tricks we do, he'd be a happy man" September 23, 2001

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