DVDs that contain lengthy docs. about stars or directors? (1 Viewer)

[Jason Goodmanson]

Wellspring (at least according to Amazon) released a documentary on Akira Kurosawa, simple called Kurosawa. I have borrowed this from the library a few times, never finish it of course, but what I have watched were pretty good.

 

[Eric Peterson]

I think I have everybody's suggestions updated in the first post. If you have anymore keep 'em coming. I'm looking forward to seeing some of these.

 

[Matt Fisher]

The docs in the 5-disc Criterion: Fanny & Alexander are fantastic, give some great looks at Bergman.

 

[Haggai]

There's a great Ozu documentary on disc 2 of Criterion's Tokyo Story 2-disc set, called "I Lived, But..."

 

[Shawn Cornwell]

Thanks for the great list. Here's a few for the "Discs sold separately" category:

George Cukor: On Cukor Wonderful 90 minute American Masters doc from 2000; Mike Clark gave it 4 stars in USA Today.

Robert Evans: The Kid Stays in the Picture Great 2002 doc narrated by the man himself.

Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer A terrific 85 minute American Masters presentation from 2002.

Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light An hour-long American Masters from 2000- Poitier offers a lot of insight concerning his amazing career.

Stating the obvious (see three of the four above), American Masters is hard to beat in turning out great documentaries detailing top artists' careers.

 

[Eric Peterson]

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions Shawn & Haggai

I've updated the first post again.

 

[Matt Butler]

Wheres the Clint Eastwood Man from Malpaso documantary?

Ive been looking for it recently.

Thanks

 

[Runar_R]

Another suggestion:

Goldwyn - The Man And His Movies (R2)

 

[Felix Martinez]

Director Michael Powell and writer Leo Marks - A Very British Psycho, on the Criterion Peeping Tom DVD. Fantastic!

 

[Eric Peterson]

Time to revive this post again.

I've updated the first post with all of the new documentaries that I remember coming out, and have updated everybody's suggestions. I hope that I haven't missed any.

Keep the suggestions coming, if you have 'em.

 

[ChrisPearson]

I have an addition:

Frank Capra's American Dream on The Matinee Idol (link)

 

[GregoryMesh]

Here's a few I could think of...

Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl It (Kino edition)
F.W. Murnau: The Way to Murnau Tartuffe
Henri Georges Clouzot: An Enlightened Tyrant Wages of Fear (remastered edition)
Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director Ugetsu
Val Lewton: Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy Val Lewton Boxset

Discs sold seperately
Fritz Lang: Circle of Destiny
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
James Dean: Forever Young
James Dean: Sense Memories (American Masters)
John Wayne: American Legend
Leni Riefenstahl: Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl
Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu (out of print)
Marion Davies: Captured on Film: The True Story of Marion Davies (Quality Street is an extra)
Mary Pickford: A Life on Film
Mary Pickford (2005 PBS Documentary)
Rita Hayworth: Rita (Trouble in Texas is an extra)
Rudolph Valentino: The Legend of Rudolph Valentino

 

[Eric Peterson]

Wow! Those are some great suggestions Chris & Gregory. Thanks a lot, you've completely destroyed my budget for the rest of the year!

I've added them all to the first post.

 

[Paul McElligott]

Mel Gibson: Birth of a Star on "Mad Max"

 

[Eric Peterson]

Added Paul's suggestion and several other biography titles that I found listed on Amazon. This list is getting much larger than I ever thought!

 

[Tom Rhea]

Criterion's John Cassavetes box set includes as a separate disc a 3 hour, 20 minute JC doc called A Constant Forge. It is quite good.

It's been awhile since I've seen it and I can't remember how long it is, but I recall being impressed with a documentary on the life of Warren Oates included with the movie Cockfighter (I don't know if there's a porn movie of the same name, but if so that's not the one I mean).

 

[Eric Peterson]

Updated Tom's suggestions and added

The Unknown Chaplin &
Harry Langdon: The Forgotten Clown

Keep 'em comin'

 

[Gordon McMurphy]

There's the Merion C. Cooper doc on the King Kong 2-disc.

A Henri-Goerge Clouzot doc on the new Criterion 2-disc of The Wages of Fear.

A 150-minute documentary on Kenji Mizoguchi by Kaneto Shindo on the recent Criterion 2-disc of Ugetsu.

 

[Eric Peterson]

Gordon's suggestions have been added.

I also added docs about Sam Peckinpah, John Ford, John Wayne, Sam Fuller, Tennesse Williams, & Dorothy Dandrige.

I'm sure that I've missed some from the past six months, so bring 'em on.

 

[GregoryMesh]

Stardust: The Bette Davis Story is exclusive to the second boxset of Bette Davis. There's also All About Bette and A Film Profile: Joan Crawford documentaries on What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? disc. Stagecoach disc includes American Masters profile: John Ford/John Wayne: The Filmmaker & the Legend documentary. Clark Gable: Tall, Dark and Handsome doc will be included on San Francisco disc.