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Ed Wood (28-Sep-1994)
Director: Tim Burton Writers: Scott Alexander; Larry Karaszewski Based on a book: Nightmare of Ecstasy by Rudolph Grey Music by: Howard Shore Producers: Denise Di Novi; Tim Burton Keywords: Drama, Comedy, Biography, Crossdressing, Alien Invasion, Vampire The career of Ed Wood, director of terrifically bad films, and crossdresser with a peculiar taste for Angora sweaters. Wood meets the washed-up horror star Bela Lugosi, whom he casts in several films including the notorious Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959). Clearly a pet project, this is one of Tim Burton's finest efforts. Won Oscars for Best Supporting Actor and Best Makeup; nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes.
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CAST | Johnny Depp | ... Ed Wood | | | Martin Landau | ... Bela Lugosi | | Sarah Jessica Parker | ... Dolores Fuller | | Patricia Arquette | ... Kathy O'Hara | | Jeffrey Jones | ... Criswell | | G. D. Spradlin | ... Rev. Lemon | | Vincent D'Onofrio | ... Orson Welles | | Lisa Marie | ... Vampira | | | and | | Bill Murray | ... Bunny Breckinridge | | | Mike Starr | ... Georgie Weiss | | Max Casella | ... Paul Marco | | Brent Hinkley | ... Conrad Brooks | | Juliet Landau | ... Loretta King | | George "The Animal" Steele | ... Tor Johnson | | | Clive Rosengren | ... Ed Reynolds | | Norman Alden | ... Cameraman Bill | | Leonard Termo | ... Makeup Man Harry | | Ned Bellamy | ... Dr. Tom Mason | | Danny Dayton | ... Soundman | | John Ross | ... Camera Assistant | | Bill Cusack | ... Tony McCoy | | Aaron Nelms | ... Teenage Kid | | Biff Yeager | ... Rude Boss | | Joseph R. Gannascoli | ... Security Guard | | Carmen Filpi | ... Old Crusty Man | | Lisa Malkiewicz | ... Secretary #1 | | Melora Walters | ... Secretary #2 | | Conrad Brooks | ... Bartender | | Don Amendolia | ... Salesman | | Tommy Bertelsen | ... Tough Boy | | Reid Cruickshanks | ... Stage Guard | | Stanley Desantis | ... Mr. Feldman | | Lionel Decker | ... Executive #1 | | Edmund L. Shaff | ... Executive #2 | | Gene LeBell | ... Ring Announcer | | Jesse Hernandez | ... Wrestling Opponent | | Bobby Slayton | ... TV Show Host | | Gretchen Becker | ... TV Host's Assistant | | John Rice | ... Conservative Man | | Catherine Butterfield | ... Conservative Wife | | Mary Portser | ... Backer's Wife | | King Cotton | ... Hick Backer | | Don Hood | ... Southern Backer | | Frank Echols | ... Doorman | | Matthew Barry | ... Valet | | Ralph Monaco | ... Waiter | | Anthony Russell | ... Busboy | | Tommy Bush | ... Stage Manager | | Gregory Walcott | ... Potential Backer | | Charles C. Stevenson, Jr. | ... Another Backer | | Rance Howard | ... Old Man McCoy | | Vasek C. Simek | ... Prof. Strowski | | Alan Martin | ... Vampira's Assistant | | Salwa Ali | ... Vampira's Girlfriend | | Rodney Kizziah | ... Vampira's Friend | | Korla Pandit | ... Indian Musician | | Hannah Eckstein | ... Greta Johnson | | Luc de Schepper | ... Karl Johnson | | Vinny Argiro | ... TV Horror Show Director | | Patti Tippo | ... Nurse | | Ray Baker | ... Doctor | | Louis Lombardi | ... Rental House Manager | | James Reid Boyce | ... Theatre Manager | | Ben Ryan Ganger | ... Angry Kid | | Ryan Holihan | ... Frantic Usher | | Marc Revivo | ... High School Punk | | Charlie Holliday | ... Tourist | | Adam Drescher | ... Photographer #1 | | Ric Mancini | ... Photographer #2 | | Daniel Riordan | ... Pilot -- Strapping Young Man | | Mickey Cottrell | ... Hammy Alien | | Christopher George Simpson | ... Organist | | | Choir | | Robert Binford | ... Choir Member | | Herbert Boche | ... Choir Member | | Linda Rae Brienza | ... Choir Member | | Marlene Cook | ... Choir Member | | Sylvia Coussa | ... Choir Member | | Audrey Cuyler | ... Choir Member | | Joseph Golightly | ... Choir Member | | Carrie Starner Hummel | ... Choir Member | | Ramona Kemp-Blair | ... Choir Member | | Carolyn Kessinger | ... Choir Member | | Nancy Longyear | ... Choir Member | | Matthew Nelson | ... Choir Member | | Robert Nuffer | ... Choir Member | | William Michael Short | ... Choir Member | | Susan Eileen Simpson | ... Choir Member | | George F. Sterne | ... Choir Member | | Charles Alan Stephenson | ... Choir Member | | Cheri A. Williams | ... Choir Member | | Cynthia Ann Wilson | ... Choir Member |
REVIEWS Review by Karlos (posted on 25-Feb-2005) Tim Burton outdid himself with this beautifully crafted nod to "The Worst Director of All Time." Filmed in 1950's black and white, the cinematography, editing and production values only add to a cast and director that treats its subject(s) with an unexpected respect. Johnny Depp plays the title character with an optimism that surrounds and ensnares the oddball circle of friends and collaborators that journeyed along with Ed Wood during his brief and troubled career. Depp has found a personality in Wood that he plays straight laced even in scenes that could be a bit much for other actors. Martin Landau is absolutely uncanny as the aged, down on his luck, morphine addicted Bela Lugosi whom Ed Wood unexpectedly meets on the street and brings into his B movie productions. (Even the death of Bela Lugosi doesn't stop Ed Wood from shooting a whole movie starring Bela, with just a minutes worth of Lugosi on film). Watching Landau inhabit this role is alone worth watching the movie, although the rest of the cast shines brightly as well. Bill Murray is hilarious as Bunny Breckinridge, a would-be transsexual whom Wood gets to be his "Master of the Universe" in the infamous Plan 9 From Outer Space. Sarah Jessica Parker is right on as Ed's "in the dark" girlfriend who can't understand why her angora sweaters are stretched out; and who finally can't take the weirdos who somehow have inhabited her world. In the hands of another director, it would've been easy to mock the characters and times of this material. In the direction of Mr. Burton, you can't help but smile at the affection and warmth he showers over these imperfect people. Ed Wood is a must see for those of us who, back in the day, loved "monster movies", for those of us who collected monster mags in the sixties and for those of us that sat in front of the tv when Ed Wood films came on late at night and we pointed and yelled, "That tombstone just moved!" But most of all, Ed Wood is a must see for those of us who love good movies.
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