Category: Documentary

Included on the Dracula DVD set was this documentary about the history of classic monster films made at Universal Studios during the 1930s and 40s. It’s fairly comprehensive in its scope from covering details on each of the films, interviewing a number of people connected to the films (fans who saw them in theaters, actors from the films, and family members of those involved with the productions), and providing historical context by comparing the plots to films at other studios and also the effects of the world wars. I was rather impressed that what seemed like a throwaway bonus feature was so informative.

While I recently watched both 49 Up and 56 Up, this is my review for the majority of the series. For 56 years, director Michael Apted revisited a group of Britons every seven years to establish the changes that individuals undergo in life. While Apted only worked with the director of the first installment, that one began with the idea that you could see the adult person simply by looking at that person at the age of seven. I have no idea how really true that is (I personally think there are some hints in comparing the progress as they age), but it is truly a gift that this group allowed the world a glimpse into their lives and the wisdom they have to share in being compelled to reflect on the turns their lives take every seven years. It’s very personal to try to compare myself at various ages, particularly when watching the episodes most close to my current age, and feeling how universal some milestones are.

In the 1990s, Morgan Freeman offered to pay for the prom in his hometown of Clarkston, Mississippi if they agreed to have a desegregated dance. When he tried it again in 2008, the school and students took him up on the offer, but inexplicably white parents still decided to host a separate whites only prom. I went to a large enough high school that while dances were still a big deal to many, the whole community didn’t get involved as they seem to do here. The documentary suffers in that only one opinion is shown and those who try to interpret the other side’s reasons do so with the most unsympathetic interpretation. Not that I can imagine they’d come off as anything but racist or bigoted as their lawyer seems to fear, but it’d still feel more complete to hear them say why. It’s also very weird that the integrated prom then started with a prayer, but I guess it’s one issue at a time.

I am a sucker for checking out documentaries on quirky subjects. The subject here is ventriloquism, featuring participants with a wide range of ages and experiences with success. I’m picky about the standup comedy I find humorous and ventriloquism is just too bizarre for me to get beyond the whys of someone choosing the hobby/career. There’s just something missing in this film that brings me to empathize with most of the subjects. Nothing else in the film is elevated enough to make up for that.