When Hollywood superstar George Reeves dies in his home, private detective Louis Simo is hired to investigate his death and gets caught in a web of lies involving a big studio executive’s wife. Based on a true story.
Credits: TheMovieDb.
Film Cast:
- Louis Simo: Adrien Brody
- Toni Mannix: Diane Lane
- George Reeves: Ben Affleck
- Eddie Mannix: Bob Hoskins
- Leonore Lemmon: Robin Tunney
- Carol Van Ronkel: Kathleen Robertson
- Helen Bessolo: Lois Smith
- Bill Bliss: Phillip MacKenzie
- Chester Sinclair: Larry Cedar
- Barbell Man: Eric Kaldor
- Kit Holliday: Caroline Dhavernas
- Robert Condon: Kevin Hare
- Laurie Simo: Molly Parker
- Evan Simo: Zach Mills
- Chuck: Neil Crone
- Del: Gareth Williams
- Phillip: Seamus Dever
- Morgue Attendant: Vladimir Jon Cubrt
- Detective Doug Johnson: Ted Atherton
- Natividad Vacio: Diego Fuentes
- Sergeant Jack Paterson: Dash Mihok
- Rita Hayworth: Veronica Watt
- Chopard Saleswoman: Joan Gregson
- Judge Eisler: David Bolt
- Times Reporter: Todd Grinnell
- Officer Daniel Korby: David J. MacNeil
- Miss Yoshida: Ayumi Iizuka
- Dominick’s Waiter: Eric Fink
- Art Weissman: Jeffrey DeMunn
- Lester Koenig, Auditioning Actor: Jeff Teravainen
- Harold Chiles, Casting Director: Brendan Wall
- Barney Sarecky, Producer: Eric Weinthal
- Bob Maxwell, Producer: Steve Adams
- Izzy Berne, Tailor: Jack Newman
- Russ Taylor: Brad William Henke
- Jack Larson / Jimmy Olsen: Joseph Adam
- Phyllis Coates / Lois Lane: Lorry Ayers
- Tommy Carr, Director: Robert B. Kennedy
- John Hamilton / Perry White: Sven Van de Ven
- Chad: Gray Powell
- James Engelmann: Michael Rhoades
- MGM Hunk: Tim Campbell
- Howard Strickling: Joe Spano
- Alford “Rip” Van Ronkel: Richard Fancy
- “Superman” Announcer (voice): Kerin McCue
- Maxwell Arnow, Casting Director: Jeff Cowan
- Fred Zinnemann: Peter James Haworth
- Docville Bank Teller: Tim Dorsch
- Stunned Boy: Alexander Cameron Drogemuller
- Kenneth Giles: Jason Spevack
- Mrs. Sinclair: Dendrie Taylor
- Mannix Maid: Jody Jaress
- Funeral Reporter #1: Murray Oliver
- Funeral Reporter #2: Walter Rinaldi
- Buddy Adler: Terry Barna
- Cigar Man: Bill Lake
- Camera Girl: Natalie Krill
- Jackie, Leonore’s Friend: Erin Gooderham
- Earl Wilson: Cameron Mitchell Jr.
- Dark Figure: Cotton Mather
- Thug Detective: Steve Brandes
- Rick Harris: Donald Burda
- 5-Year-Old Evan: Charlie Lea
- Man at Police Station (uncredited): Matt Amar
- Wag (uncredited): Jordan Barker
- Delivery Guy (uncredited): Yaron Betan
- Man at Audition (uncredited): Patrick Dussault
- Mom (uncredited): Crystal Joy Hall
- Cop (uncredited): Michael Janik
- Boy at Park (uncredited): Austin Macdonald
- Mom (uncredited): Jennifer Sims
Film Crew:
- Director: Allen Coulter
- Screenplay: Paul Bernbaum
- Producer: Glenn Williamson
- Executive Producer: Joe Pichirallo
- Executive Producer: Jake Myers
- Production Design: Leslie McDonald
- Editor: Michael Berenbaum
- Casting: Joanna Colbert
- Director of Photography: Jonathan Freeman
- Set Decoration: Odetta Stoddard
- Art Direction: Patrick Banister
- Costume Designer: Julie Weiss
- Wigmaker: Erwin H. Kupitz
- Key Hair Stylist: Jennifer Bower O’Halloran
- Key Hair Stylist: Karen Asano-Myers
- Key Makeup Artist: Luisa Abel
- Key Makeup Artist: Linda Dowds
- Executive Producer: J. Miles Dale
- Production Manager: Christopher J. Danton
- Post Production Supervisor: Jennifer Lane
- Executive In Charge Of Post Production: Jane Nerlinger Evans
- First Assistant Director: Myron Hoffert
- Third Assistant Director: Beverly Morgan
- Third Assistant Director: Gerrod Shully
- Set Dresser: Anthony Carlino
- Set Dresser: Summer Gaal
- Set Dresser: Paul Penley
- Set Designer: Michael Shocrylas
- Assistant Art Director: J. Ryan Halpenny
- Graphic Designer: Paul Greenberg
- Art Department Coordinator: Beth Gilinsky
- Key Scenic Artist: Rossana DeCampo
- Art Department Coordinator: Susan Chooljian
- Assistant Sound Editor: Chris Fielder
- Sound Effects Editor: Paul Hsu
- Dialogue Editor: Branka Mrkic
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Reilly Steele
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Ron Bochar
- Assistant Sound Editor: Alexa Zimmerman
- Stunt Coordinator: Jordan Craig
- Special Effects Makeup Artist: Rob Hinderstein
- Key Special Effects: Skyler Wilson
- Visual Effects Supervisor: Dennis Berardi
- Visual Effects Supervisor: Evan Jacobs
- Visual Effects Coordinator: Brendan Taylor
- Visual Effects Production Manager: Sarah McMurdo
- Visual Effects Producer: Fiona Campbell Westgate
- Stunt Coordinator: Matt Birman
- Stunt Coordinator: Cotton Mather
- Second Unit Director of Photography: Kim Derko
- Set Costumer: Christina Cattle
- Costume Supervisor: Lindsay Jacobs
- Location Manager: S. Todd Christensen
- Location Manager: David McIlroy
- Music Supervisor: Dan Lieberstein
- Scoring Mixer: Lawrence Manchester
- Music Editor: Jennifer Dunnington
- Script Supervisor: Susan Marucci
- Transportation Coordinator: Charley Bob Burnham
- Original Music Composer: Marcelo Zarvos
- Picture Car Coordinator: Glenn Hughes
Movie Reviews:
- Wuchak: _**The mysterious death of 50’s icon George Reeves**_
- In the early morning hours of June 16, 1959, George Reeves (Ben Affleck), star of the Adventures of Superman that ran from 1952-1958, is found dead in his Westside Los Angeles bedroom from a gunshot wound to the head. While the official cause of death is listed as suicide, his mother hires a private detective (Adrien Brody) to investigate the possibility of murder. Although it is argued that Reeves had reasons to kill himself due to depression over being typecast and aging issues, several individuals had motive and opportunity to kill him, including ex-girlfriend Toni Mannix (Diane Lane) and her powerful husband, the manager of MGM (Bob Hoskins), as well as Reeves’ fiancé (Robin Tunney). The biggest mystery is why the other three individuals in the house at the time of Reeves’ death waited 45 minutes to notify police.
- “Hollywoodland” (2006) is a crime drama in the neo-noir vein and also a tragic biopic similar to “Auto Focus” (2002), “Mommie Dearest” (1981) and “Changeling” (2008). The only fictional character is Brody’s private eye, but he was based on real-life detective Milo Speriglio.
- The movie effectively details the three different death scenarios with the hint that one is the most likely. But, really, it begins as a mystery and ends as one, which I think is fitting since no one actually knows what happened at this point. In any case, this is a worthy tribute to Reeves and his life in Hollywood during the 50s. After watching, research the case for yourself.
- Also notable on the female front are Caroline Dhavernas as the detective’s girlfriend and Molly Parker as his ex.
- The film runs 2 hours, 6 minutes and was shot in Los Angeles and the greater Toronto area.
- GRADE: B
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