This is the feature-length documentary found on the 2-Disc DVD of the George Lucas Director's Cut of THX 1138. Yikes, what a mouthful. It consists of interviews(with all the film-makers and a few studio people, too) and some clips of the films that are talked about(even used ironically here and there), with occasional narration tying it all together. This gives a history of, well, the early years of American Zoetrope, as the title of it gives away. It is very interesting and well-told; I knew a lot of what was said in this already, going into it, and yet I was engaged throughout. The story-telling is competent, the whole thing is rather well-edited(the cuts and footage do not attract attention to themselves) and keeps to a great pace. You learn about the career beginnings of them all, find out how different and mutually helpful to one another Lucas and Ford Coppola were, and no, they don't deny the liberated drug use and sexuality(come on, it was the 60's and 70's). The whole thing ends with a brief bit of each of the talents, followed by a list of their work. I recommend this to any fan of the people it is about. 8/10
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Oh, "The Horror, the Horror!" . . .
oscaralbert19 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
. . . of what MIGHT have happened had not Warner Bros. courageously nipped the "American Zoetrope" Madness of Francis Ford Coppola in the butt, reveals this LEGACY OF FILMMAKERS expose. Left to his own devices, Ford would have produced a low-budget version of APOCALYPSE NOW in the swamps of LOUISIANA instead of directing THE GODFATHER! Adding in salt to this injury, George Lucas would have deserted Luke Skywalker to search for Marlon Brando in that soggy Cajun Country. No doubt this would have left Peter Falk playing THE GODFATHER, with Robert Redford blowing up the Death Star!! Fortunately for Galactic Civilization, Warner Bros. stomped its foot down upon Ford's Worser Idea, cutting off a finger from Lucas' four-year-old daughter to send George an engraved Horse's Head he could not refuse. Otherwise, the Academy would have had no choice but to award "Best Picture" Oscars to HOWARD THE DUCK and HOWARD QUACKS AGAIN. Thanks, Warner!
A must-see documentary
Criticalstaff12 April 2020
I love this documentary.
It is fantastic piece of knowledge on a pivotal time in American Cinema. I think more than any other it gives us a look at that late 60's-early 70s Californian/Hippie ethos of we are gonna change the world and we will not repeat the mistakes of our forefathers.
Of course it is not all there is here, there is talk about generation at the beginning and how basically the ideological/thematic/cultural revolution these guys were leading was first and foremost generational. But it might just be me right now looking at it from 2020, when generational fracture is deeper than ever.
What I like about this doc is that it follows the film making business and industry more than the film making itself. it is pretty rare to have Scorcese, Spielberg and other talk about the movie industry in such a relaxed casual manner. Now when you hear them talk, it is to deplore the studio system and the fact that corporate greed/control crushes the soul of the artist filmmaker. Obvisouly it is on full display here, but it made more sense to me because you understand the motivation and you see the roots of the distrust between someone like Lucas and the studios. Usually these conversations are pretty shallow or political in nature, with an endgame or a message. Yet here it leads to this analysis of the studio system and it is back-up by facts.It is rather descriptive and analytical than enflammatory.
It is pretty funny to see this film in 2020. I had already seen this once like 5 years ago, but even so things have changed dramatically since then. Not only does the documentary capture the late 60s, it is also a time capsule of the early 2000 when it was made; When all these filmmakers where at the top of the food-chain.
On that last note : the documentary comes right after the prequels but before the Disney buy-out. It may have been the last time anyone treated George Lucas as a genius, without having to justify it. Then the prequels back-lash happened, Then Disney bought Star Wars and drove it to the ground.
I don't really know if it's fair from me to mention Marcia Lucas. Since the documentary came out, and the prequels opened up the question : Did Lucas actually knew what he was doing ? A lot of people look at his ex-wife as the driving force behind the success of Star Wars. "Saved in the editing" as it was. This subject is absent form this movie. And it is okay. But since they approach these questions like where were they in their lives, where did they got the money etc... I feel it was an intersting sidenote: was she even there?
The documentary ends on the idea that American Zoetrope was the stable that led to Star Wars, Apocalypse Now and all those masterpeices. I get it, but it feels a bit forced. Sure the ideas, the spirit, the talent percolated here, but ultimately those films were good on merits of their own. Marcia Lucas and Richard Chew saved Star Wars in the editing room. Hearts of Darkness shows how Coppola created Apocalypse Now through the hardships and difficulties he faced in the Phillipines. But hey, maybe in some years I'll see this with yet another look.
What I like about this doc is that it follows the film making business and industry more than the film making itself. it is pretty rare to have Scorcese, Spielberg and other talk about the movie industry in such a relaxed casual manner. Now when you hear them talk, it is to deplore the studio system and the fact that corporate greed/control crushes the soul of the artist filmmaker. Obvisouly it is on full display here, but it made more sense to me because you understand the motivation and you see the roots of the distrust between someone like Lucas and the studios. Usually these conversations are pretty shallow or political in nature, with an endgame or a message. Yet here it leads to this analysis of the studio system and it is back-up by facts.It is rather descriptive and analytical than enflammatory.
It is pretty funny to see this film in 2020. I had already seen this once like 5 years ago, but even so things have changed dramatically since then. Not only does the documentary capture the late 60s, it is also a time capsule of the early 2000 when it was made; When all these filmmakers where at the top of the food-chain.
On that last note : the documentary comes right after the prequels but before the Disney buy-out. It may have been the last time anyone treated George Lucas as a genius, without having to justify it. Then the prequels back-lash happened, Then Disney bought Star Wars and drove it to the ground.
I don't really know if it's fair from me to mention Marcia Lucas. Since the documentary came out, and the prequels opened up the question : Did Lucas actually knew what he was doing ? A lot of people look at his ex-wife as the driving force behind the success of Star Wars. "Saved in the editing" as it was. This subject is absent form this movie. And it is okay. But since they approach these questions like where were they in their lives, where did they got the money etc... I feel it was an intersting sidenote: was she even there?
The documentary ends on the idea that American Zoetrope was the stable that led to Star Wars, Apocalypse Now and all those masterpeices. I get it, but it feels a bit forced. Sure the ideas, the spirit, the talent percolated here, but ultimately those films were good on merits of their own. Marcia Lucas and Richard Chew saved Star Wars in the editing room. Hearts of Darkness shows how Coppola created Apocalypse Now through the hardships and difficulties he faced in the Phillipines. But hey, maybe in some years I'll see this with yet another look.
One of the Best Film Documentaries Around
MGabbard10 November 2004
Another documentary from Leva FilmWorks, and one of the best film documentaries I've ever seen. I give it 9.5 out of 10.
Did you know that if it werren't for Francis Ford Coppola, there would probably be no Star Wars? Did you know that Apocalypse Now was originally intended for George Lucas to direct? Did you know that if it werren't for the financial failure of THX:1138, and the insistence of George Lucas, Coppola would not have made The Godfather?
This is not just a documentary about a film. It tells the story of how some of the greatest films of the 70's (and possibly all time) came to be. But it also tells the story of a revolution or re-birth of the film industry. It's not just about George Lucas and Francis Coppola (who are the main focus of this documentary). It's the story of where the people that went on to craft The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Black Stallion, American Graffiti, Conan the Barbarian, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Godfather, and Apocalypse Now all came from.
Plus you'll find out where the name American Zoetrope came from.
If you are a fan of films of the 70's (or filmaking in general), I highly recommend this documentary. It's 60 very well spent minutes.
Did you know that if it werren't for Francis Ford Coppola, there would probably be no Star Wars? Did you know that Apocalypse Now was originally intended for George Lucas to direct? Did you know that if it werren't for the financial failure of THX:1138, and the insistence of George Lucas, Coppola would not have made The Godfather?
This is not just a documentary about a film. It tells the story of how some of the greatest films of the 70's (and possibly all time) came to be. But it also tells the story of a revolution or re-birth of the film industry. It's not just about George Lucas and Francis Coppola (who are the main focus of this documentary). It's the story of where the people that went on to craft The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Black Stallion, American Graffiti, Conan the Barbarian, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Godfather, and Apocalypse Now all came from.
Plus you'll find out where the name American Zoetrope came from.
If you are a fan of films of the 70's (or filmaking in general), I highly recommend this documentary. It's 60 very well spent minutes.
This is the way to do a documentary of 70's cinema!
bombad_jedi29 December 2004
American Zoetrope is undoubtedly one of the most influential film studios of the past century.
It is truly sad that they had so many troubles in the early years starting out, but it helped to shape the careers of greats like George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Walter Murch, and many more.
The documentary includes a good balance of vintage footage, and interviews with just about everyone you'd care to hear from.
"A Leagacy of Filmmakers" is also included on the THX 1138 DVD, which is a great purchase.
If you are interested in the history of film (and especially film of the '70s) watch this documentary... you'll love it.
It is truly sad that they had so many troubles in the early years starting out, but it helped to shape the careers of greats like George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Walter Murch, and many more.
The documentary includes a good balance of vintage footage, and interviews with just about everyone you'd care to hear from.
"A Leagacy of Filmmakers" is also included on the THX 1138 DVD, which is a great purchase.
If you are interested in the history of film (and especially film of the '70s) watch this documentary... you'll love it.
Neat little retrospective.
Blueghost8 October 2004
So that's how the pros did it!
This is a neat little documentary regarding a segment of the SF Bay Area film making history. Specifically it's an account of Zoetrope Studios formative days, and the two heavy hitters to come out of that experience; Coppola and Lucas, with regards to Lucas's first feature film "THX-1138."
During the 80's there was a lot of hype regarding the emergence of San Francisco becoming the new "Hollywood" for California. Much of that fed off of similar but underplayed hype in the 70's when the SF Bay Area was seen as an art house community with some, but not a great deal of, commercial value (other than the Mitchell Brothers' porn empire, a small number of imitators, and the occasional Hollywood crew passing by (not to mention the exteriors for "The Streets of San Francisco")). Coppola's success (and later Lucas) gave a lot of image to the Bay Area as a new film making haven, and several people gave it a go of making Mid-Northern California the new place for making films.
It never quite worked out. Simply put San Francisco, and the Bay Area en large, is just too expensive to shoot in for any length of time. It's a loss for the major studios to establish permanent residence. A number of production houses and stage facilities opened shop, anticipating the flood of cinematic business and art that was to come. All but the most hearty folded up, and those that survived, to this day, are geared towards Industrials (porn's still around, but since everybody and the grandmother has a cam-corder, SF and LA are no longer capitals for that particular segment of the industry).
In short, it never happened. Why? How is it the boys on the ground floor were able to hold their own while the rest of the industry (the industry that-was-to-be) wilted? The documentary tells all, and shows how even Zoetrope itself, with all of Coppola's pull and energy, wasn't always on terra firma, particularly with Lucas' first film.
Coppola had the financial resources to help create a pool of trusted film makers, that were out to create avant-garde cinema (read that as off beat films marketed to young folks, then the off shoot fringe of the hippy movement; those akin, but not directly involved with, said movement, but with similar political leanings). Aside from having a desire to create something Coppola also had the funds and connections to bring Zoetrope to life. If I read the documentary right there was a certain element of "salesmanship" on Coppla's part to get Warner Brothers to back Zoetrope. So even though there was a "change" in the industry, it was more of the same on a more pragmatic level.
Said documentary uses a standard mix of talking head and still photo archive format to tell the story of how Zoetrope's people met, formed a company, and went on to create film making history, with "THX-1138" as Zoetrope's premiere film. I don't recall there being any archive footage from other sources (though there may have been), and what there was was very sparse. It would've been interesting to see clips from the other projects that were shot during Zoetrope's formation. But that's not such big deal. The documentary does fine without them, and entertains by bringing the viewer into the early world of American Zoetrope. For myself it was somewhat nostalgic to see the photos of people dressed in 70's garb all over again, and specifically the young artistic film makers out to change the world.
A lot of us regular Joe-schmos, schmos who've been involved in the SF Bay Area film making community, remember those days, but weren't part of that particular drama, and always wondered how Coppola (and the rest of the Zoetrope folks) made their way in a very cut throat industry, and in a town that was the cinematic equivalent of the Wild West. "A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope" provides those answers and more. The moral of the story; stick with your friends, and see things through. Myself, I'm pretty jealous of that, because a lot of the younger generation see Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg and Sorcese as being the epitome of Hollywood, replete with all the glizt, glamour and intrigue of Babylon. This documentary will show how wrong those people were then, and are now.
If you're into film making and its history this documentary (provided on the bonus disk of the Special Edition of 'THX-1138') will prove interesting and valuable. Enjoy :-)
This is a neat little documentary regarding a segment of the SF Bay Area film making history. Specifically it's an account of Zoetrope Studios formative days, and the two heavy hitters to come out of that experience; Coppola and Lucas, with regards to Lucas's first feature film "THX-1138."
During the 80's there was a lot of hype regarding the emergence of San Francisco becoming the new "Hollywood" for California. Much of that fed off of similar but underplayed hype in the 70's when the SF Bay Area was seen as an art house community with some, but not a great deal of, commercial value (other than the Mitchell Brothers' porn empire, a small number of imitators, and the occasional Hollywood crew passing by (not to mention the exteriors for "The Streets of San Francisco")). Coppola's success (and later Lucas) gave a lot of image to the Bay Area as a new film making haven, and several people gave it a go of making Mid-Northern California the new place for making films.
It never quite worked out. Simply put San Francisco, and the Bay Area en large, is just too expensive to shoot in for any length of time. It's a loss for the major studios to establish permanent residence. A number of production houses and stage facilities opened shop, anticipating the flood of cinematic business and art that was to come. All but the most hearty folded up, and those that survived, to this day, are geared towards Industrials (porn's still around, but since everybody and the grandmother has a cam-corder, SF and LA are no longer capitals for that particular segment of the industry).
In short, it never happened. Why? How is it the boys on the ground floor were able to hold their own while the rest of the industry (the industry that-was-to-be) wilted? The documentary tells all, and shows how even Zoetrope itself, with all of Coppola's pull and energy, wasn't always on terra firma, particularly with Lucas' first film.
Coppola had the financial resources to help create a pool of trusted film makers, that were out to create avant-garde cinema (read that as off beat films marketed to young folks, then the off shoot fringe of the hippy movement; those akin, but not directly involved with, said movement, but with similar political leanings). Aside from having a desire to create something Coppola also had the funds and connections to bring Zoetrope to life. If I read the documentary right there was a certain element of "salesmanship" on Coppla's part to get Warner Brothers to back Zoetrope. So even though there was a "change" in the industry, it was more of the same on a more pragmatic level.
Said documentary uses a standard mix of talking head and still photo archive format to tell the story of how Zoetrope's people met, formed a company, and went on to create film making history, with "THX-1138" as Zoetrope's premiere film. I don't recall there being any archive footage from other sources (though there may have been), and what there was was very sparse. It would've been interesting to see clips from the other projects that were shot during Zoetrope's formation. But that's not such big deal. The documentary does fine without them, and entertains by bringing the viewer into the early world of American Zoetrope. For myself it was somewhat nostalgic to see the photos of people dressed in 70's garb all over again, and specifically the young artistic film makers out to change the world.
A lot of us regular Joe-schmos, schmos who've been involved in the SF Bay Area film making community, remember those days, but weren't part of that particular drama, and always wondered how Coppola (and the rest of the Zoetrope folks) made their way in a very cut throat industry, and in a town that was the cinematic equivalent of the Wild West. "A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope" provides those answers and more. The moral of the story; stick with your friends, and see things through. Myself, I'm pretty jealous of that, because a lot of the younger generation see Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg and Sorcese as being the epitome of Hollywood, replete with all the glizt, glamour and intrigue of Babylon. This documentary will show how wrong those people were then, and are now.
If you're into film making and its history this documentary (provided on the bonus disk of the Special Edition of 'THX-1138') will prove interesting and valuable. Enjoy :-)
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